Summary:
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on September 15, 2014. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 - (Sec. 3) Reauthorizes the child care and development block grant (CCDBG) program under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (CCDBG Act) through FY2020 at specified levels. (Sec. 4) Allows governors to designate a collaborative agency or establish a joint interagency office to serve as the lead agency responsible for administering the CCDBG program.

Requires the lead agency, at the option of an Indian tribe or organization in the state, to collaborate and coordinate with that tribe or tribal organization in the development of the state child care and development plan in a timely manner.

(Sec. 5) Increases from two to three years the period that must be covered by a state child care and development plan.

Revises and expands plan requirements, including, among others, those regarding state licensing, consumer and provider education information, training and professional development, child-to-provider ratios, health and safety, child abuse reporting, protection for working parents, priority for low-income populations, coordination with other programs, and the needs of children in child care services during the period before, during, and after a state of emergency, including a statewide child care disaster plan meeting specified criteria. Prescribes early learning and developmental guidelines.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, to report annually about whether each state uses funds allocated to it for the fiscal year involved in accordance with the specified priority for services.

Authorizes a state to use funds to establish or support a system of local or regional child care resource and referral organizations.

Requires the state plan to demonstrate that the state has developed and conducted (within the two years preceding submission of the application containing the state plan) a statistically valid and reliable survey of the market rates for child care services in the state or an alternative methodology, such as a cost estimation model.

(Sec. 6) Revises requirements for activities to improve the quality of child care.

Requires that states spend the following percentages of their program funding to improve the quality of child care: (1) at least 7% in the first two fiscal years after the enactment of this Act, (2) at least 8% in the third and fourth fiscal years, and (3) at least 9% in the fifth and each succeeding full fiscal year after enactment. Requires states to spend, in addition, at least 3% of such funds received by the second full fiscal year after enactment, and received for each succeeding full fiscal year, to improve the quality of care for infants and toddlers.

Requires states receiving funds under the CCDBG Act to: (1) support training and professional development of the child care workforce, (2) improve development or use of early learning and developmental guidelines, (3) develop or enhance a tiered quality rating system for child care providers and services, and (4) improve the supply and quality of child care programs and services for infants and toddlers through specified activities.

(Sec. 7) Requires any state receiving CCDBG funds to have in effect: (1) policies and procedures to require and conduct criminal background checks, with a 10-year look-back period, for current and prospective staff members of child care providers; and (2) licensing, regulation, and registration requirements that prohibit the employment of certain ineligible individuals as child care staff members. Requires a state to ensure that such policies and procedures are published on the websites of state and local lead agencies. Makes ineligible for employment by a child care provider receiving assistance under this Act any individual who: (1) refuses to consent to a criminal background check, (2) knowingly makes a materially false statement in connection with such a background check, (3) is registered or is required to be registered on a state sex offender registry or the National Sex Offender Registry, or (4) has been convicted of one or more specified felonies. Prescribes requirements for the process of background checks, including fees a state may charge. (Sec. 8) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to: (1) provide technical assistance to states (which may be on a reimbursable basis) by qualified experts on practices grounded in scientifically valid research to carry out the CCDBG Act; (2) disseminate, for voluntary informational purposes, information on practices that scientifically valid research indicates are most successful in improving the quality of programs that receive CCDBG assistance; and (3) after consultation with the heads of any other federal agencies involved, issue guidance and disseminate information on best practices regarding use of funding combined by the states.

Authorizes the Secretary to waive, upon state request, for up to three years any provision under the CCDBG program, or sanctions imposed upon a state for noncompliance with requirements, if the Secretary makes certain findings, including that the waiver will, by itself, contribute to or enhance the states's ability to carry out CCDBG purposes.

Declares that nothing shall be construed as granting the Secretary authority to permit states to alter the eligibility requirements for eligible children, including work requirements, job training, or educational program participation, that apply to the parents of eligible children.

Requires states receiving CCDBG funds to collect monthly information on whether children receiving CCDBG assistance are homeless.

Requires a state to report annually to the Secretary aggregate data on the number of child fatalities occurring among children while in the care and facility of child care providers receiving CCDBG assistance, listed by the type of child care provider and indicating whether the providers are licensed or license-exempt.

Directs the Secretary to operate, directly or through the use of grants or contracts, a national toll-free hotline and website.

Prohibits any quarterly state CCDBG reports to the Secretary from containing personally identifiable information.

(Sec. 9) Revises the amount the Secretary is required to reserve from annual appropriations for CCDBG payments to Indian tribes and tribal organizations. Requires a reservation of 2% of such appropriations (currently, between 1% and 2%), but allows for a greater reservation in certain circumstances.

Directs the Secretary to reserve up to $1.5 million of the amount appropriated for the CCDBG program each fiscal year for the operation of the national toll-free hotline and website.

Requires the Secretary also to reserve up to 1/2 of 1% of CCDBG program appropriations each to: (1) support technical assistance and dissemination of information on practices most successful in improving the quality of programs receiving CCDBG assistance; and (2) conduct research and demonstration activities, as well as periodic external, independent evaluations of the impact of the CCDBG program on increasing access to, and improving the safety and quality of, child care services.

Directs the Secretary, in consultation with Indian tribes and tribal organizations, to develop minimum child care standards applicable to any of them receiving CCDBG assistance.

Requires the Secretary to waive the prohibition against tribal use of CCDBG funds for construction or renovation of child care facilities if it would decrease the level of child care services, in any case where: (1) the decrease is temporary, and (2) the level of child care services will increase or improve after the construction or renovation is completed.

(Sec. 10) Defines "child with a disability" as one under age 13 who has a disability and is eligible for early intervention services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Caps the family assets of an "eligible child" at $1 million.

(Sec. 11) Declares that nothing in the CCDBG Act shall be construed in a manner to: (1) favor or promote the use of grants and contracts for the receipt of child care services under the CCDBG Act over the use of child care certificates; or (2) disfavor or discourage the use of such certificates for the purchase of child care services, including those services provided by private or nonprofit entities, such as faith-based providers.

(Sec. 12) Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to study the number of families eligible to receive assistance under the CCDBG Act, identified by the type of assistance requested, who have applied for it and been placed on a waiting list.

(Sec. 13) Directs the Secretary, in conjunction with the Secretary of Education, to conduct an interdepartmental review of all early learning and care programs for children under age six.

measure amended passed house september summary version repeated block grant act sec reauthorizes child care development block grant program child care development block grant act act fy2020 specified levels sec allows governors designate collaborative agency establish joint interagency office serve lead agency responsible administering program requires lead agency option indian tribe organization state collaborate coordinate tribe tribal organization development state child care development plan timely manner sec increases years period covered state child care development plan revises expands plan requirements including state licensing consumer provider education information training professional development child provider ratios health safety child abuse reporting protection working parents priority low income populations coordination programs needs children child care services period state emergency including statewide child care disaster plan meeting specified criteria prescribes early learning developmental guidelines requires secretary health_and_human_services hhs acting assistant secretary report annually state uses funds allocated fiscal year involved accordance specified priority services authorizes state use funds establish support system local regional child care resource referral organizations requires state plan demonstrate state developed conducted years preceding submission application containing state plan statistically valid reliable survey market rates child care services state alternative methodology cost estimation model sec revises requirements activities improve quality child care requires states spend following percentages program funding improve quality child care fiscal years enactment act fourth fiscal years fifth succeeding fiscal year enactment requires states spend addition funds received second fiscal year enactment received succeeding fiscal year improve quality care infants toddlers requires states receiving funds act support training professional development child care workforce improve development use early learning developmental guidelines develop enhance tiered quality rating system child care providers services improve supply quality child care programs services infants toddlers specified activities sec requires state receiving funds effect policies procedures require conduct criminal background checks year look period current prospective staff members child care providers licensing regulation registration requirements prohibit employment certain ineligible individuals child care staff members requires state ensure policies procedures published websites state local lead agencies makes ineligible employment child care provider receiving assistance act individual refuses consent criminal background check knowingly makes materially false statement connection background check registered required registered state sex offender registry national sex offender registry convicted specified felonies prescribes requirements process background checks including fees state charge sec directs secretary health_and_human_services hhs provide technical assistance states reimbursable basis qualified experts practices grounded scientifically valid research carry act disseminate voluntary informational purposes information practices scientifically valid research indicates successful improving quality programs receive assistance consultation heads federal agencies involved issue guidance disseminate information best practices use funding combined states authorizes secretary waive state request years provision program sanctions imposed state noncompliance requirements secretary makes certain findings including waiver contribute enhance states ability carry purposes declares shall construed granting secretary authority permit states alter eligibility requirements eligible children including work requirements job training educational program participation apply parents eligible children requires states receiving funds collect monthly information children receiving assistance homeless requires state report annually secretary aggregate data number child fatalities occurring children care facility child care providers receiving assistance listed type child care provider indicating providers licensed license exempt directs secretary operate directly use grants contracts national toll free hotline website prohibits quarterly state reports secretary containing personally identifiable information sec revises secretary required reserve annual appropriations payments indian tribes tribal organizations requires reservation appropriations currently allows greater reservation certain circumstances directs secretary reserve million appropriated program fiscal year operation national toll free hotline website requires secretary reserve program appropriations support technical assistance dissemination information practices successful improving quality programs receiving assistance conduct research demonstration activities periodic external independent evaluations impact program increasing access improving safety quality child care services directs secretary consultation indian tribes tribal organizations develop minimum child care standards applicable receiving assistance requires secretary waive prohibition tribal use funds construction renovation child care facilities decrease level child care services case decrease temporary level child care services increase improve construction renovation completed sec defines child disability age disability eligible early intervention services individuals disabilities education act caps family assets eligible child million sec declares act shall construed manner favor promote use grants contracts receipt child care services act use child care certificates discourage use certificates purchase child care services including services provided private nonprofit entities faith based providers sec directs comptroller_general gao study number families eligible receive assistance act identified type assistance requested applied placed waiting list sec directs secretary conjunction secretary education conduct interdepartmental review early learning care programs children age


Summary:
Promoting Adoption and Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Act of 2013 - Amends part B (Child and Family Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish and maintain an automated National Responsible Father Registry.

Requires the Registry to: (1) contain specified kinds of information sufficient to identify a possible father, and (2) provide a mechanism for men to register such identifying information directly with the Registry.

Limits access to Registry information to eligible parties, including: (1) public and licensed private adoption or child placement agencies, (2) licensed attorneys representing a party in a planned or pending adoption or in the termination of rights of one or more possible fathers, (3) state agencies or entities responsible for the placement of children, and (4) state courts.

Directs the Secretary to establish a nationwide campaign designed to inform possible fathers, unwed mothers, possible adoptive parents, and eligible parties of the National Registry, the advantages of possible fathers registering either in the National Registry or State Responsible Father Registries, or both, the rights and responsibilities of such parties with regard to a proceeding, and the role of such Registries in a proceeding.

Directs the Secretary to use all reasonable efforts to encourage states to enter into agreements to establish automated State Responsible Father Registries and centers that make registration forms easily accessible to possible fathers.

Authorizes the Secretary to make a grant to a state to establish a State Registry or modify an existing one to meet the requirements of this Act.

promoting adoption promoting responsible fatherhood act amends child family services title social security act direct secretary health_and_human_services hhs establish maintain automated national responsible father registry requires registry contain specified kinds information sufficient identify possible father provide mechanism men register identifying information directly registry limits access registry information eligible parties including public licensed private adoption child placement agencies licensed attorneys representing party planned pending adoption termination rights possible fathers state agencies entities responsible placement children state courts directs secretary establish nationwide campaign designed inform possible fathers unwed mothers possible adoptive parents eligible parties national_registry advantages possible fathers registering national_registry_or_state_responsible_father_registries rights responsibilities parties regard proceeding role registries proceeding directs secretary use reasonable efforts encourage states enter agreements establish automated state responsible father registries centers registration forms easily accessible possible fathers authorizes secretary grant state establish state registry modify existing meet requirements act


Summary:
Child Care Infant Mortality Prevention Act of 2013 - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to revise the requirements for a state plan to administer a child care development block grant.

Requires the minimum health and safety training appropriate to a child care provider mandatory under state or local law, and certified by the state plan, to include training on cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid, safe sleep practices, and other sudden unexpected infant death prevention strategies.

child care infant mortality prevention act amends child care development block grant act revise requirements state plan administer child care development block grant requires minimum health safety training appropriate child care provider mandatory state local law certified state plan include training cardiopulmonary resuscitation aid safe sleep practices sudden unexpected infant death prevention strategies


Summary:
Removing Barriers to Adoption and Supporting Families Act of 2013 - Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to reauthorize the adoption incentive payment program through FY2018.

Adds a new adoption incentive payment for states involved in sending and receiving interstate adoptions. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to pay each state that was a receiving state for an interstate adoptive placement for a fiscal year a pro rata share of the portion of the adoption incentive payment paid to the sending state.

Requires a state to report to the Secretary data on interstate adoptions.

Directs the Secretary to develop national standards for home studies for use in evaluating potential foster and adoptive parents.

Establishes a matching rate for states adopting home study in compliance with national standards.

Limits planned permanent living arrangements to children who have attained age 17.

Directs the Comptroller General to study: (1) the number of children in each state that are assigned a permanency goal of another planned permanent living arrangement for the most recent fiscal year for which data are available; (2) the ages, gender, race, and special needs of children whose permanency goal is another planned permanent living arrangement; (3) a review and analysis of court practices for determining that another planned permanent living arrangement is the appropriate placement for a child; (4) information with respect to foster youths' involvement in deciding to enter into a permanency goal of another planned permanent living arrangement; and (5) a summary of the reasons that reunification, adoption, kinship care, or guardianship were not found to be in the best interests of the child.

Requires a state to spend an amount equal to 20% of the amount of savings from adoption assistance de-linkage to provide post-adoption and post-permanency services to children and families.

Requires the state foster care and adoption assistance plan to: (1) commit the state to engage in public-private partnerships to promote evidence-based child-focused recruitment practices that focus measurable attention on the adoption of children out of foster care with an emphasis on those children most at risk of aging out of care, and (2) encourage placement of children with siblings.

removing barriers adoption supporting families act amends foster care adoption assistance title social security act ssa reauthorize adoption incentive payment program fy2018 adds new adoption incentive payment states involved sending receiving interstate adoptions directs secretary health_and_human_services hhs pay state receiving state interstate adoptive placement fiscal year pro rata share portion adoption incentive payment paid sending state requires state report secretary data interstate adoptions directs secretary develop national standards home studies use evaluating potential foster adoptive parents establishes matching rate states adopting home study compliance national standards limits planned permanent living arrangements children attained age directs comptroller general study number children state assigned permanency goal planned permanent living arrangement recent fiscal year data available ages gender race special needs children permanency goal planned permanent living arrangement review analysis court practices determining planned permanent living arrangement appropriate placement child information respect foster youths involvement deciding enter permanency goal planned permanent living arrangement summary reasons reunification adoption kinship care guardianship found best interests child requires state spend equal savings adoption assistance provide post adoption post permanency services children families requires state foster care adoption assistance plan commit state engage public private partnerships promote evidence based child focused recruitment practices focus measurable attention adoption children foster care emphasis children risk aging care encourage placement children siblings


Summary:
Supporting Adoptive Families Act - Amends part B (Child and Family Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to make it a purpose of the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program to promote efforts to prevent children from entering the foster care system through the provision of pre- and post-adoptive support services.

Extends adoption promotion and support services to those designed to support adoptions from other countries as well as domestic adoptions. Specifies related pre- and post-adoptive support services.

Amends SSAct title IV part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) to revise requirements for state expenditures for adoption support services.

Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, to award grants or cooperative agreements to eligible entities to develop and implement state-sponsored statewide or tribal post-adoption mental health service programs for all adopted children.

Amends SSAct title IV part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) to direct the Secretary, as part of the child support and paternity data collection system, to promulgate final regulations requiring the states to collect and report information regarding children adopted within the United States or from other countries who enter into state custody as a result of the disruption of a placement for adoption or the dissolution of an adoption.

supporting adoptive families act amends child family services title social security act ssact purpose stephanie tubbs jones child welfare services program promote efforts prevent children entering foster care system provision pre- post adoptive support services extends adoption promotion support services designed support adoptions countries domestic adoptions specifies related pre- post adoptive support services amends ssact title foster care adoption assistance revise requirements state expenditures adoption support services amends public_health_service_act direct secretary health_and_human_services hhs acting administrator substance_abuse_and_mental_health_services_administration award grants cooperative agreements eligible entities develop implement state sponsored statewide tribal post adoption mental health service programs adopted children amends ssact title child support establishment paternity direct secretary child support paternity data collection system promulgate final regulations requiring states collect report information children adopted united_states countries enter state custody result disruption placement adoption dissolution adoption


Summary:
Children in Families First Act of 2013 - Establishes within the Department of State the Bureau of Vulnerable Children and Family Security which shall: (1) support the implementation in foreign countries of child welfare laws and policies; and (2) establish within the Bureau a Senior Coordinator for Permanence who shall lead the implementation of policies to ensure permanent family care for children living without families, including refugee and stateless children.

States that the Bureau shall be headed by an Assistant Secretary and have lead responsibility for representing the U.S. government in diplomatic contacts pertaining to intercountry adoptions.

Amends the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), to carry out the functions prescribed by the Convention regarding the accreditation of U.S. adoption services providers.

Establishes data bases for: (1) internationally adopted children, and (2) adoption service providers.

Transfers from the Secretary of State to the Field Operations Directorate of USCIS specified adoption-related functions, including accreditation of agencies and approval of persons to provide adoption services and oversight of provider investigations.

Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), through USCIS, to: (1) be responsible for processing and case-specific decision-making on all intercountry adoption cases, (2) ensure that all intercountry adoption suitability and eligibility determinations of prospective adoptive parents are made in accordance with criteria that comply with the Hague Adoption Convention, (3) ensure that all non-Convention adoption cases undergo specified preprocessing, and (4) be responsible for all case-processing steps in Convention and non-Convention adoption petitions on behalf of children whom U.S. parents propose to immigrate to the United States.

Directs the Secretary of State to submit an annual report to Congress regarding children living without families.

Establishes within the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) a Center of Excellence on Children in Adversity.

Authorizes the President to provide assistance for programs in developing countries for nutrition, education, care, and protection of children.

Requires USAID to carry out a priority country demonstration program implementing the (December 2012) Action Plan for Children in Adversity over a period of five years in at least six countries.

children families act establishes shall support implementation foreign countries child welfare laws policies establish shall lead implementation policies ensure permanent family care children living families including refugee stateless children states bureau shall headed assistant secretary lead responsibility representing government diplomatic contacts pertaining intercountry adoptions amends intercountry adoption act direct secretary homeland_security dhs uscis carry functions prescribed convention accreditation adoption services providers establishes data bases internationally adopted children adoption service providers transfers secretary state uscis specified adoption related functions including accreditation agencies approval persons provide adoption services oversight provider investigations requires secretary homeland_security dhs uscis responsible processing case specific decision making intercountry adoption cases ensure intercountry adoption suitability eligibility determinations prospective adoptive parents accordance criteria comply ensure non convention adoption cases undergo specified responsible case processing steps convention non convention adoption petitions behalf children parents propose united_states directs secretary state submit annual report congress children living families establishes international_development usaid center excellence children adversity authorizes president provide assistance programs developing countries nutrition education care protection children requires usaid carry priority country demonstration program implementing december action plan children adversity period years countries


Summary:
Adoption Information Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require family planning service projects or programs, as a condition of receiving certain grants or contracts, to assure the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) that they will provide each person who inquires about their services with a pamphlet containing a comprehensive list of adoption centers in their state.

Directs the Secretary to prepare, annually update, and distribute such pamphlets to such projects or programs.

adoption information act amends public_health_service_act require family planning service projects programs condition receiving certain grants contracts assure secretary health_and_human_services hhs provide person inquires services pamphlet containing comprehensive list adoption centers state directs secretary prepare annually update distribute projects programs


Summary:
Parent Education and Family Engagement in Early Childhood Care and Education Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award competitive matching grants to states and, through them, competitive subgrants to local agencies to establish, expand, or enhance early childhood and elementary school parent education and family engagement programs.

Requires a state to use: (1) at least 83% of its grant for subgrants to programs serving children from birth through age 5 and their parents, and (2) no more than 15% of its grant for subgrants to programs assisting children between age 5 and 8 and their parents with the transition to elementary school.

Requires the programs to include:

 support for activities that enhance the skills of parents in providing for and understanding their children's learning processes and intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development; training and professional development for early childhood educators in engaging parents in parent education and discussing parenting, behavior management, and healthy child development; training for parent educators and early childhood educators in detecting challenges to children's development and improving child and family health, safety, and stability; and coordination between early childhood educators and instructional staff at elementary schools in the same geographic area as the local agency. Prohibits subgrantees from using their subgrants for routine child care or early childhood education program services that are not directly related to parent education or family engagement programs.

Directs the Secretaries to arrange for the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to evaluate early childhood parent education and family engagement programs and disseminate information on the best practices of those programs.

Prohibits this Act's funding from supplanting other federal, state, and local funds for such programs.

early childhood care education act authorizes secretary education secretary health_and_human_services hhs award competitive matching grants states competitive subgrants local agencies establish expand enhance early childhood elementary school parent education family engagement programs requires state use grant subgrants programs serving children birth age parents grant subgrants programs assisting children age parents transition elementary school requires programs include support activities enhance skills parents providing understanding children learning processes intellectual social emotional physical development training professional development early childhood educators engaging parents parent education discussing parenting behavior management healthy child development training parent educators early childhood educators detecting challenges children development improving child family health safety stability coordination early childhood educators instructional staff elementary schools geographic area local agency prohibits subgrantees subgrants routine child care early childhood education program services directly related parent education family engagement programs directs secretaries arrange national_academy_of_sciences nas evaluate early childhood parent education family engagement programs disseminate information best practices programs prohibits act funding federal state local funds programs


Summary:
National Child Protection Training Act - Directs the Attorney General, through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, to establish a program to sustain at least four regional training centers affiliated with institutions of higher education.

Requires the regional training centers to: (1) develop model interdisciplinary undergraduate curricula on recognizing and responding to cases of child maltreatment that consists of at least a three-course certificate program or minor degree; (2) develop related model graduate curricula for medical schools, law schools, seminaries, and other institutions of higher education that instruct students likely to become child protection professionals or other professionals required by law to report cases of child maltreatment; (3) disseminate such curricula, upon the Attorney General's approval, to institutions of higher education; (4) develop "laboratory" training facilities that allow for simulated, interactive, and intensive training of students preparing for child protection careers as well as child protection professionals currently in the field; (5) assist communities in developing evidence-based prevention programs; and (6) assist states in developing and maintaining forensic interview training programs.

national_child_protection_training_act_-_directs attorney general office_of_juvenile_justice delinquency_prevention establish program sustain regional training centers affiliated institutions higher education requires regional training centers develop model interdisciplinary undergraduate curricula recognizing responding cases child maltreatment consists course certificate program minor degree develop related model graduate curricula medical schools law schools seminaries institutions higher education instruct students likely child protection professionals professionals required law report cases child maltreatment disseminate curricula attorney general approval institutions higher education develop laboratory training facilities allow simulated interactive intensive training students preparing child protection careers child protection professionals currently field assist communities developing evidence based prevention programs assist states developing maintaining forensic interview training programs


Summary:
Child Support Enforcement Effectiveness Act of 2013 - Establishes the Commission on Child Support to evaluate the effectiveness of existing child support enforcement programs and collection practices employed by state agencies administering programs under part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA).

Amends part D of SSA title IV to repeal the exclusion from federal matching payments of any amounts expended by a state from child support incentive payments it has received from the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). (Thus reinstates federal matching of state spending of child support incentive payments.)

child support enforcement effectiveness act establishes commission child support evaluate effectiveness existing child support enforcement programs collection practices employed state agencies administering programs child support establishment paternity title social security act ssa amends ssa title repeal exclusion federal matching payments amounts expended state child support incentive payments received secretary health_and_human_services hhs reinstates federal matching state spending child support incentive payments


Summary: Sibling Connections Act - Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to require the state foster care and adoption assistance plan to encourage placement of children with siblings by requiring the state, in its due diligence with regard to a child removed or being removed from parental custody, to notify all parents of a sibling of the child who have legal custody of that sibling.

sibling connections act amends foster care adoption assistance title social security act ssa require state foster care adoption assistance plan encourage placement children siblings requiring state diligence regard child removed removed parental custody notify parents sibling child legal custody sibling


Summary:
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Supporting At-Risk Children Act -Title I: Strengthening and Finding Families for Children - Strengthening and Finding Families for Children Act - Subtitle A: Adoption Incentive Payments - (Sec. 111) Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to extend the adoption incentives grant program through FY2016.

(Sec. 112) Revises the program's award structure.

Repeals the state incentive-eligibility requirement that: (1) the number of foster child adoptions in the state during the fiscal year exceed the state's base number of foster child adoptions for the fiscal year, (B) the number of older child adoptions in the state during the fiscal year exceed the state's base number of older child adoptions for the fiscal year, or (C) the state's foster child adoption rate for the fiscal year exceed the highest ever foster child adoption rate determined for the state.

Replaces determination of numbers of adoptions based on Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) data with determination of the rates of adoptions and foster child guardianships.

Creates a new formula for determining adoption incentive payments. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to increase the adoption incentive payment for timely adoption award states.

(Sec. 113) Renames the program the adoption and legal guardianship incentive program.

(Sec. 114) Requires states to use amounts paid to them under the program to supplement, and not supplant, any federal or non-federal funds used to provide any service under SSA title IV parts B (Child and Family Services) or E.

(Sec. 115) Requires a state to calculate the savings (if any) resulting from the application of specified eligibility requirements for adoption assistance to all applicable children for a fiscal year, using a methodology specified by the Secretary or an alternative methodology proposed by the state and approved by the Secretary.

Requires a state to spend at least 40% of any such savings on: (1) post-adoption or post-guardianship services (as applicable) for children placed in adoptive, kinship guardianship, or guardianship placements and their families; and (2) services to support and sustain positive permanent outcomes for children who otherwise might enter into foster care under the responsibility of the state.

(Sec. 116) Declares that, in the event of the death or incapacity of the relative guardian, the eligibility of a child for a kinship guardianship assistance payment shall not be affected by reason of the replacement of the relative guardian with a successor legal guardian named in the kinship guardianship assistance agreement.

(Sec. 117) Directs the Secretary, as part of the data collection system, to promulgate final regulations providing for the collection and analysis of information regarding children who enter into foster care under state supervision as a result of the disruption of a placement for adoption or foster care guardianship or the dissolution of an adoption or foster care guardianship.

(Sec. 118) Requires a state plan for foster care and adoption assistance to require the state, within 30 days after removal of a child from parental custody, to exercise due diligence to identify and provide notice to all parents of a sibling of such a child, where such parent has legal custody of such sibling (as well as all adult grandparents as under current law).

Subtitle B: Extension of Family Connection Grant Program - (Sec. 121) Amends SSA title IV part B to extend the Family Connection Grant Program through FY20016, and make universities eligible for matching grants under such programs.

Subtitle C: Unemployment Compensation - (Sec. 131) Amends SSA title III (Unemployment Compensation) with respect to the requirement that a state have an unemployment compensation law containing certain provisions in order to receive a specified federal grant. Requires a state owed an unemployment compensation debt meeting specified criteria that remains uncollected within two years after it was first incurred to take specified action under the Internal Revenue Code to recover it, including through a tax refund offset.

Title II: Identifying and Screening Youth At Risk of Sex Trafficking - Protecting Youth At-Risk of Sex Trafficking Act - Subtitle A: Addressing the Risks That Make Youth Vulnerable to Sex Trafficking and Other Negative Outcomes - (Sec. 211) Requires the state agency under its foster care and adoption assistance program plan to demonstrate to the Secretary that it has developed policies and procedures for identifying and screening any child who the state has reasonable cause to believe is a victim of sex trafficking or is risk of being a victim of trafficking.

(Sec. 212) Eliminates the option for children under age 16 to be eligible to be placed in another planned permanent living arrangement in cases where the state agency has documented to the state court a compelling reason for determining that it would not be in the best interests of the child to: (1) return home; (2) be referred for termination of parental rights; or (3) be placed for adoption, with a fit and willing relative, or with a legal guardian.

Prescribes additional case plan and case review system requirements for placement of a child in another planned permanent living arrangement, including: (1) documentation of intensive, ongoing, unsuccessful efforts for family placement; (2) court or administrative body redetermination of appropriateness of placement at each permanency hearing; and (3) demonstration of support for engaging in age or developmentally appropriate activities and social events.

Requires the state agency responsible for supervising a child's placement, if the child's permanency plan is another planned permanent living arrangement, to deposit the support amounts it has collected (without any reimbursement to the federal government) on a family's behalf in an account established for the child's benefit and used only for payment of fees or other costs attributable to the child's participation in age or developmentally appropriate activities (until age 18 or a higher age the state has elected).

Requires payment to the child of any amounts in such account once he or she attains age 18 or higher age, if elected by the state. Requires payment similarly to the child of any support amounts the state has collected for a child in foster care when he or she attains age 18 or older.

Subtitle B: Empowering Older Youth Vulnerable to Domestic Sex Trafficking and Other Negative Outcomes - (Sec. 221) Requires a permanency plan for a child age 14 or older to be developed in consultation with the child, and allows the child to choose up to two members of his or her case planning team.

(Sec. 222) Requires foster youth to be discharged from care only if provided with an official birth certificate, a Social Security card, a driver's license or equivalent state-issued identification care, and a fee-free (or low-fee) bank account. Subjects any state to an administrative penalty for noncompliance.

Subtitle C: Data and Reports - (Sec. 231) Revises data collection and reporting on sex trafficking.

Requires the state plan to require the state agency to: (1) identify and document each child who is a victim of sex trafficking or a victim of severe forms of trafficking in persons, and (2) report to law enforcement authorities within 24 hours after receiving any information on missing or abducted children for entry into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Requires a state plan also to contain a regularly updated description of the specific measures the state agency has taken to protect and provide services to such children, including efforts to coordinate with state law enforcement, juvenile justice, and social service agencies such as runaway and homeless youth shelters to serve that population.

Requires the AFCARS to provide comprehensive national information with respect to the number of children in foster care, or over whom the state agency has responsibility for placement, care, or supervision, who are identified as victims of sex trafficking or of severe forms of trafficking in persons.

(Sec. 232) Amends part A of SSA title XI to require the head of each federal agency to report to Congress recommendations for expanding safe housing for youth victims of trafficking.

Subtitle D: National Advisory Committee on Domestic Sex Trafficking - (Sec. 241) Directs the Secretary to establish a National Advisory Committee on Domestic Sex Trafficking to: (1) advise the Secretary and the Attorney General, and (2) develop two specified tiers of recommended best practices for states to follow in combating the domestic sex trafficking of minors and the commercial sexual exploitation of children.

Title III: Child Support Enforcement - Child Support Improvement and Work Promotion Act - Subtitle A: Increased Reliability of Child Support - (Sec. 311) Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to direct the Secretary to utilize federal and state enforcement mechanisms and take necessary steps to ensure compliance with the U.S. treaty obligations under any multilateral child support convention in the event that a state plan does not comply with those obligations.

Authorizes a Central Authority for child support enforcement in a foreign reciprocating country or a foreign treaty country to obtain information from the Federal Parent Locator Service for the purpose of establishing parentage or child support obligations, and enforcing them.

Authorizes a state to require residents of a foreign reciprocating country or foreign treaty country who apply for services relating to establishment of paternity or child support obligations to make such an application through the foreign country's Central Authority for child support enforcement. Allows the state to accept or reject the application of any individual residing in a foreign country that is not a foreign reciprocating country or a foreign treaty country.

Allows collection of past-due support from federal tax refunds in response to a request from a foreign reciprocating country or a foreign treaty country.

Amends the federal judicial code with respect to full faith and credit for child support orders to revise requirements for state tribunals with appropriate jurisdiction to modify child support orders including an order issued in that state if one party resides in another state. Allows individual contestants to a child support order to consent to allow a state tribunal to continue to exercise jurisdiction to modify the order, or to change the tribunal and jurisdiction, in certain circumstances, to those of another state.

(Sec. 312) Allows issuance of passports to certain individuals with annual incomes of under $100,000 who owe arrearages of child support but have been making such payments over a period of time.

(Sec. 313) Authorizes child support enforcement programs operated by Indian tribes to conduct an experimental, pilot, or demonstration project to assist in promoting the SSA title IV part D objectives.

(Sec. 314) Authorizes establishment of voluntary parenting time arrangements under state part D plans.

(Sec. 315) Increases from 24 to 48 months the length of time information entered into the data base maintained by the National Directory of New Hires shall remain before being deleted.

Authorizes the Secretary to provide access to data in each component of the Federal Parent Locator Service for certain related federal or state research as well as assessments of the effectiveness of a federal program in achieving positive labor market outcomes.

Subtitle B: Child Support Enforcement Task Force - (Sec. 321) Establishes in the executive branch a Child Support Enforcement Task Force to report to Congress findings and recommendations for improvements in child support enforcement.

Subtitle C: Effective Dates - (Sec. 331) Sets forth effective dates of this Act.

Title IV: Budgetary Effects - (Sec. 401) Prescribes requirements for the determination of budgetary effects of this Act.

measure amended introduced summary expanded action occurred measure supporting risk children act strengthening finding families children strengthening finding families children act subtitle adoption incentive payments sec amends foster care adoption assistance title social security act ssa extend adoption incentives grant program fy2016 sec revises program award structure repeals state incentive eligibility requirement number foster child adoptions state fiscal year exceed state base number foster child adoptions fiscal year number older child adoptions state fiscal year exceed state base number older child adoptions fiscal year state foster child adoption rate fiscal year exceed highest foster child adoption rate determined state replaces determination numbers adoptions based reporting system afcars data determination rates adoptions foster child creates new formula determining adoption incentive payments requires secretary health_and_human_services hhs increase adoption incentive payment timely adoption award states sec renames program adoption legal guardianship incentive program sec requires states use amounts paid program supplement supplant federal non federal funds provide service ssa title parts child family services sec requires state calculate savings resulting application specified eligibility requirements adoption assistance applicable children fiscal year methodology specified secretary alternative methodology proposed state approved secretary requires state spend savings post adoption post guardianship services applicable children placed adoptive kinship guardianship guardianship placements families services support sustain positive permanent outcomes children enter foster care responsibility state sec declares event death incapacity relative guardian eligibility child kinship guardianship assistance payment shall affected reason replacement relative guardian successor legal guardian named kinship guardianship assistance agreement sec directs secretary data collection system promulgate final regulations providing collection analysis information children enter foster care state supervision result disruption placement adoption foster care guardianship dissolution adoption foster care guardianship sec requires state plan foster care adoption assistance require state days removal child parental custody exercise diligence identify provide notice parents sibling child parent legal custody sibling adult grandparents current law subtitle extension family connection grant program sec amends ssa title extend family connection grant program universities eligible matching grants programs subtitle unemployment compensation sec amends ssa title respect requirement state unemployment compensation law containing certain provisions order receive specified federal grant requires state owed unemployment compensation debt meeting specified criteria remains years incurred specified action internal revenue code recover including tax refund offset title identifying screening youth risk sex trafficking protecting youth risk sex trafficking act subtitle addressing risks youth vulnerable sex trafficking negative outcomes sec requires state agency foster care adoption assistance program plan demonstrate secretary developed policies procedures identifying screening child state reasonable cause believe victim sex trafficking risk victim trafficking sec eliminates option children age eligible placed planned permanent living arrangement cases state agency documented state court compelling reason determining best interests child return home referred termination parental rights placed adoption fit willing relative legal guardian prescribes additional case plan case review system requirements placement child planned permanent living arrangement including documentation intensive ongoing unsuccessful efforts family placement court administrative body redetermination appropriateness placement permanency hearing demonstration support engaging age developmentally appropriate activities social events requires state agency responsible supervising child placement child permanency plan planned permanent living arrangement deposit support amounts collected reimbursement federal government family behalf account established child benefit payment fees costs attributable child participation age developmentally appropriate activities age higher age state elected requires payment child amounts account attains age higher age elected state requires payment similarly child support amounts state collected child foster care attains age older subtitle empowering older youth vulnerable domestic sex trafficking negative outcomes sec requires permanency plan child age older developed consultation child allows child choose members case planning team sec requires foster youth discharged care provided official birth certificate social_security card driver license equivalent state issued identification care fee free low fee bank account subjects state administrative penalty noncompliance subtitle data reports sec revises data collection reporting sex trafficking requires state plan require state agency identify document child victim sex trafficking victim severe forms trafficking persons report law enforcement authorities hours receiving information missing abducted children entry national_crime_information_center ncic database federal_bureau_of_investigation fbi requires state plan contain regularly updated description specific measures state agency taken protect provide services children including efforts coordinate state law enforcement juvenile justice social service agencies runaway homeless youth shelters serve population requires afcars provide comprehensive national information respect number children foster care state agency responsibility placement care supervision identified victims sex trafficking severe forms trafficking persons sec amends ssa title require head federal agency report congress recommendations expanding safe housing youth victims trafficking subtitle national advisory committee domestic sex trafficking sec directs secretary establish advise secretary attorney general develop specified tiers recommended best practices states follow combating domestic sex trafficking minors commercial sexual exploitation children title iii child support enforcement child support improvement work promotion act subtitle increased reliability child support sec amends child support establishment paternity title social security act ssa direct secretary utilize federal state enforcement mechanisms necessary steps ensure compliance treaty obligations multilateral child support convention event state plan comply obligations authorizes central authority child support enforcement foreign reciprocating country foreign treaty country obtain information federal_parent_locator_service purpose establishing child support obligations enforcing authorizes state require residents foreign reciprocating country foreign treaty country apply services relating establishment paternity child support obligations application foreign country central_authority child support enforcement allows state accept reject application individual residing foreign country foreign reciprocating country foreign treaty country allows collection past support federal tax refunds response request foreign reciprocating country foreign treaty country amends federal judicial code respect faith credit child support orders revise requirements state tribunals appropriate jurisdiction modify child support orders including order issued state party resides state allows individual contestants child support order consent allow state tribunal continue exercise jurisdiction modify order change tribunal jurisdiction certain circumstances state sec allows issuance passports certain individuals annual incomes owe arrearages child support making payments period time sec authorizes child support enforcement programs operated indian tribes conduct experimental pilot demonstration project assist promoting ssa title objectives sec authorizes establishment voluntary parenting time arrangements state plans sec increases months length time information entered data base maintained national_directory_of_new_hires shall remain deleted authorizes secretary provide access data component federal_parent_locator_service certain related federal state research assessments effectiveness federal program achieving positive labor market outcomes subtitle child support enforcement task force sec establishes executive branch child support enforcement task force report congress findings recommendations improvements child support enforcement subtitle effective dates sec sets forth effective dates act title budgetary effects sec prescribes requirements determination budgetary effects act


Summary:
Strengthening And Finding Families for Children Act - Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to revise the adoption incentives grant program (renaming it the adoption and legal guardianship incentive program), creating a new formula for determining adoption incentive payments, and extending the program through FY2016. Revises the program's award structure, including limitations on the use of incentive payments.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to increase the adoption incentive payment for timely adoption award states.

Requires states to use amounts paid to them under the program to supplement, and not supplant, any federal or non-federal funds used to provide any service under SSA title IV parts B (Child and Family Services) or E.

Requires a state to calculate the savings (if any) resulting from the application of specified eligibility requirements for adoption assistance to all applicable children for a fiscal year, using a methodology specified by the Secretary or an alternative methodology proposed by the state and approved by the Secretary.

Requires a state to spend at least 40% of any such savings on: (1) post-adoption or post-guardianship services (as applicable) for children placed in adoptive, kinship guardianship, or guardianship placements and their families; and (2) services to support and sustain positive permanent outcomes for children who otherwise might enter into foster care under the responsibility of the state.

Declares that, in the event of the death or incapacity of the relative guardian, the eligibility of a child for a kinship guardianship assistance payment shall not be affected by reason of the replacement of the relative guardian with a successor legal guardian named in the kinship guardianship assistance agreement.

Directs the Secretary, as part of the data collection system, to promulgate final regulations providing for the collection and analysis of information regarding children who enter into foster care under state supervision as a result of the disruption of a placement for adoption or foster care guardianship or the dissolution of an adoption or foster care guardianship.

Requires a state plan for foster care and adoption assistance to require the state, within 30 days after removal of a child from parental custody, to exercise due diligence to identify and provide notice to all parents of a sibling of such a child, where such parent has legal custody of such sibling (as well as all adult grandparents as under current law).

Amends SSA title IV part B to extend the Family Connection Grant Program through FY20016, and make universities eligible for matching grants under such programs.

Amends SSA title III (Unemployment Compensation) with respect to the requirement that a state have an unemployment compensation law containing certain provisions in order to receive a specified federal grant. Requires a state owed an unemployment compensation debt meeting specified criteria that remains uncollected within two years after it was first incurred to take specified action under the Internal Revenue Code to recover it, including through a tax refund offset.

strengthening finding families children act amends foster care adoption assistance title social security act ssa revise adoption incentives grant program renaming adoption legal guardianship incentive program creating new formula determining adoption incentive payments extending program fy2016 revises program award structure including limitations use incentive payments requires secretary health_and_human_services hhs increase adoption incentive payment timely adoption award states requires states use amounts paid program supplement supplant federal non federal funds provide service ssa title parts child family services requires state calculate savings resulting application specified eligibility requirements adoption assistance applicable children fiscal year methodology specified secretary alternative methodology proposed state approved secretary requires state spend savings post adoption post guardianship services applicable children placed adoptive kinship guardianship guardianship placements families services support sustain positive permanent outcomes children enter foster care responsibility state declares event death incapacity relative guardian eligibility child kinship guardianship assistance payment shall affected reason replacement relative guardian successor legal guardian named kinship guardianship assistance agreement directs secretary data collection system promulgate final regulations providing collection analysis information children enter foster care state supervision result disruption placement adoption foster care guardianship dissolution adoption foster care guardianship requires state plan foster care adoption assistance require state days removal child parental custody exercise diligence identify provide notice parents sibling child parent legal custody sibling adult grandparents current law amends ssa title extend family connection grant program universities eligible matching grants programs amends ssa title respect requirement state unemployment compensation law containing certain provisions order receive specified federal grant requires state owed unemployment compensation debt meeting specified criteria remains years incurred specified action internal revenue code recover including tax refund offset


Summary:
Child Support Improvement and Work Promotion Act - Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to utilize federal and state enforcement mechanisms and take necessary steps to ensure compliance with the U.S. treaty obligations under any multilateral child support convention in the event that a state plan does not comply with those obligations.

Authorizes a Central Authority for child support enforcement in a foreign reciprocating country or a foreign treaty country to obtain information from the Federal Parent Locator Service for the purpose of establishing parentage or child support obligations, and enforcing them.

Authorizes a state to require residents of a foreign reciprocating country or foreign treaty country who apply for services relating to establishment of paternity or child support obligations to make such an application through the foreign country's Central Authority for child support enforcement. Allows the state to accept or reject the application of any individual residing in a foreign country that is not a foreign reciprocating country or a foreign treaty country.

Allows collection of past-due support from federal tax refunds in response to a request from a foreign reciprocating country or a foreign treaty country.

Amends the federal judicial code with respect to full faith and credit for child support orders to revise requirements for state tribunals with appropriate jurisdiction to modify child support orders including an order issued in that state if one party resides in another state. Allows individual contestants to a child support order to consent to allow a state tribunal to continue to exercise jurisdiction to modify the order, or to change the tribunal and jurisdiction, in certain circumstances, to those of another state.

Allows issuance of passports to certain individuals with annual incomes of under $100,000 who owe arrearages of child support but have been making such payments over a period of time.

Authorizes child support enforcement programs operated by Indian tribes to conduct an experimental, pilot, or demonstration project to assist in promoting the SSA title IV part D objectives.

Authorizes establishment of voluntary parenting time arrangements under state part D plans.

Increases from 24 to 48 months the length of time information entered into the data base maintained by the National Directory of New Hires shall remain before being deleted.

Authorizes the Secretary to provide access to data in each component of the Federal Parent Locator Service for certain related federal or state research as well as assessments of the effectiveness of a federal program in achieving positive labor market outcomes.

Establishes in the executive branch a Child Support Enforcement Task Force.

child support improvement work promotion act amends child support establishment paternity title social security act ssa direct secretary health_and_human_services hhs utilize federal state enforcement mechanisms necessary steps ensure compliance treaty obligations multilateral child support convention event state plan comply obligations authorizes central authority child support enforcement foreign reciprocating country foreign treaty country obtain information federal_parent_locator_service purpose establishing child support obligations enforcing authorizes state require residents foreign reciprocating country foreign treaty country apply services relating establishment paternity child support obligations application foreign country central_authority child support enforcement allows state accept reject application individual residing foreign country foreign reciprocating country foreign treaty country allows collection past support federal tax refunds response request foreign reciprocating country foreign treaty country amends federal judicial code respect faith credit child support orders revise requirements state tribunals appropriate jurisdiction modify child support orders including order issued state party resides state allows individual contestants child support order consent allow state tribunal continue exercise jurisdiction modify order change tribunal jurisdiction certain circumstances state allows issuance passports certain individuals annual incomes owe arrearages child support making payments period time authorizes child support enforcement programs operated indian tribes conduct experimental pilot demonstration project assist promoting ssa title objectives authorizes establishment voluntary parenting time arrangements state plans increases months length time information entered data base maintained national_directory_of_new_hires shall remain deleted authorizes secretary provide access data component federal_parent_locator_service certain related federal state research assessments effectiveness federal program achieving positive labor market outcomes establishes executive branch child support enforcement task force


Summary:
Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2014 - Directs the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services to require each location of a covered program to meet specified minimum standards if individually or together with other locations it has an effect on interstate commerce.

Defines "covered program" as one operated by a public or private entity that with respect to one or more children unrelated to the program owner or operator: (1) provides a residential environment; and (2) operates with a focus on serving children with emotional, behavioral, or mental health problems or disorders, or problems with alcohol or substance abuse.

Directs the Assistant Secretary to: (1) implement an ongoing review process for investigating and evaluating reports of child abuse and neglect; (2) establish public websites with information about each covered program, as well as a national toll-free telephone hotline to receive complaints; (3) establish civil penalties for violations of standards; and (4) establish a process to ensure that complaints received by the hotline are promptly reviewed by persons with appropriate expertise.

Requires the Assistant Secretary to refer any violation of such standards to the Attorney General for appropriate action. Authorizes the Attorney General to file such a complaint on his or her own initiative regardless of whether such a referral has been made.

Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to establish additional eligibility requirements for grants to states to prevent child abuse and neglect at residential programs. Requires such states to develop policies and procedures to prevent child abuse and neglect at covered programs consistent with the standards specified by this Act.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study outcomes for children in both private and public covered programs under this Act encompassing a broad representation of treatment facilities and geographic regions.

Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to study the implementation of this Act and the effectiveness of the covered programs.

stop_child_abuse residential programs teens act directs assistant secretary children_and_families_of_the_department_of_health_and_human_services require location covered program meet specified minimum standards individually locations effect interstate commerce defines covered program operated public private entity respect children unrelated program owner operator provides residential environment operates focus serving children emotional behavioral mental health problems disorders problems alcohol substance abuse directs assistant secretary implement ongoing review process investigating evaluating reports child abuse neglect establish public websites information covered program national toll free telephone hotline receive complaints establish civil penalties violations standards establish process ensure complaints received hotline promptly reviewed persons appropriate expertise requires assistant secretary refer violation standards attorney general appropriate action authorizes attorney general file complaint initiative regardless referral amends child abuse prevention treatment act establish additional eligibility requirements grants states prevent child abuse neglect residential programs requires states develop policies procedures prevent child abuse neglect covered programs consistent standards specified act directs secretary health_and_human_services hhs study outcomes children private public covered programs act encompassing broad representation treatment facilities geographic regions directs comptroller general gao study implementation act effectiveness covered programs


Summary:
Sunshine in Litigation Act of 2014 - Amends the federal judicial code to prohibit a court, in any civil action in which the pleadings state facts relevant to protecting public health or safety, from entering an order restricting the disclosure of information obtained through discovery, approving a settlement agreement that would restrict such disclosure, or restricting access to court records, subject to exceptions, unless the court has first made independent findings of fact that: (1) the order would not restrict the disclosure of information relevant to the protection of public health or safety or (2) the public interest in the disclosure of past, present, or potential health or safety hazards is outweighed by a specific and substantial interest in maintaining the confidentiality of the information and the requested protective order is no broader than necessary to protect the confidentiality interest asserted. Prohibits a court from approving any party's stipulation or request to stipulate to an order that would violate this Act.

Prohibits such a court from: (1) approving or enforcing any provision of an agreement between or among parties, or an order entered under this Act, to the extent that it restricts a party from disclosing information to any federal or state agency with authority to enforce laws regulating an activity relating to such information (requires such information disclosed to a federal or state agency to be confidential to the extent provided by law); or (2) enforcing any provision of a settlement agreement described under this Act between or among parties to such civil action that prohibits a party from disclosing that a settlement was reached or the terms of the settlement, other than the amount paid, or from discussing the civil action, or evidence produced in it, that involves matters relevant to the protection of public health or safety. Excepts from this enforcement prohibition (thus allowing enforcement of) a settlement agreement provision about which the court finds that the public interest in the disclosure of past, present, or potential health or safety hazards is outweighed by a specific and substantial interest in maintaining the confidentiality of the information or records in question and that the requested protective order is no broader than necessary to protect the confidentiality interest asserted.

Creates a rebuttable presumption that the interest in protecting personally identifiable information relating to an individual's financial, health, or other similar information outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to permit, require, or authorize the disclosure of, and no court shall be prohibited from restricting disclosure of or access to: (1) information classified under a secret Executive order concerning national defense or foreign policy, or (2) intelligence sources and methods.

Bars this Act from providing a basis for: (1) granting a motion to reconsider, modify, amend, or vacate a protective or settlement order entered before the effective date of this Act; or (2) reversing such an order retroactively on appeal.

sunshine litigation act amends federal judicial code prohibit court civil action pleadings state facts relevant protecting public health safety entering order restricting disclosure information obtained discovery approving settlement agreement restrict disclosure restricting access court records subject exceptions court independent findings fact order restrict disclosure information relevant protection public health safety public interest disclosure past present potential health safety hazards outweighed specific substantial interest maintaining confidentiality information requested protective order broader necessary protect confidentiality interest asserted prohibits court approving party stipulation request stipulate order violate act prohibits court approving enforcing provision agreement parties order entered act extent restricts party disclosing information federal state agency authority enforce laws regulating activity relating information requires information disclosed federal state agency confidential extent provided law enforcing provision settlement agreement described act parties civil action prohibits party disclosing settlement reached terms settlement paid discussing civil action evidence produced involves matters relevant protection public health safety excepts enforcement prohibition allowing enforcement settlement agreement provision court finds public interest disclosure past present potential health safety hazards outweighed specific substantial interest maintaining confidentiality information records question requested protective order broader necessary protect confidentiality interest asserted creates rebuttable presumption interest protecting personally identifiable information relating individual financial health similar information outweighs public interest disclosure declares act shall construed permit require authorize disclosure court shall prohibited restricting disclosure access information classified secret executive order concerning national defense foreign policy intelligence sources methods bars act providing basis granting motion reconsider modify amend vacate protective settlement order entered effective date act order retroactively appeal


Summary:
Foster Care Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a partially refundable tax credit for each qualifying foster child who resides in the home of an eligible taxpayer for at least one calendar month during the taxable year. Defines "qualifying foster child" as a child in foster care who has not attained age 17, who is a citizen, national, or resident of the United States, and with respect to whom the child tax credit is not allowable. Requires the name and taxpayer identification number of a foster child to be included on the taxpayer's tax return.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to identify provisions in the Internal Revenue Code that can benefit foster families and increase outreach efforts to inform state and Indian tribal foster care agencies and foster families about such provisions.

internal revenue code allow partially refundable tax credit qualifying foster child resides home eligible taxpayer calendar month taxable year defines qualifying foster child child foster care attained age citizen national resident united_states respect child tax credit allowable requires taxpayer identification number foster child included taxpayer tax return directs secretary health_and_human_services hhs identify provisions internal_revenue_code benefit foster families increase outreach efforts inform state indian tribal foster care agencies foster families provisions


Summary:
Children in Families First Act of 2014 - Establishes within the Department of State the Office of Vulnerable Children and Family Security which shall: (1) support the implementation in foreign countries of child welfare laws and policies; and (2) address the gap in U.S. diplomacy, policy, and operations with respect to promoting appropriate, protective, and permanent family care for children living without families.

States that the Office shall be headed by an Ambassador-at-Large who shall: (1) serve as a primary advisor to the Secretary of State and the President in all matters related to vulnerable children and family security in foreign countries; and (2) represent the United States in matters relevant to international child welfare, family preservation and reunification, and provision of permanent, safe parental care through kinship and domestic and intercountry adoption.

Amends the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), to carry out the functions prescribed by the Convention regarding the accreditation of U.S. adoption services providers.

Establishes databases for internationally adopted children and adoption service providers.

Transfers from the Secretary of State to the Field Operations Directorate of USCIS specified adoption-related functions, including accreditation of agencies and approval of persons to provide adoption services and oversight of provider investigations.

Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, through USCIS, to: (1) be responsible for processing and case-specific decision making on all intercountry adoption cases, (2) ensure that all intercountry adoption suitability and eligibility determinations of prospective adoptive parents are made in compliance with the Hague Adoption Convention, (3) ensure that all non-Convention adoption cases undergo specified preprocessing, and (4) be responsible for all case processing steps in Convention and non-Convention adoption petitions on behalf of children whom U.S. parents propose to immigrate to the United States.

Establishes within the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) a Center of Excellence on Children in Adversity.

Authorizes the President to provide assistance for programs in developing countries for nutrition, education, care, and protection of children.

Requires: (1) the President to establish a system to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of U.S. aid to children in adversity, and (2) USAID to carry out a priority country demonstration program implementing the (December 2012) Action Plan for Children in Adversity over a period of five years in at least six countries.

children families act establishes shall support implementation foreign countries child welfare laws policies address gap diplomacy policy operations respect promoting appropriate protective permanent family care children living families states office shall headed ambassador large shall serve primary advisor secretary state president matters related vulnerable children family security foreign countries represent united_states matters relevant international child welfare family preservation reunification provision permanent safe parental care kinship domestic intercountry adoption amends intercountry adoption act direct secretary homeland_security dhs uscis carry functions prescribed convention accreditation adoption services providers establishes databases internationally adopted children adoption service providers transfers secretary state uscis specified adoption related functions including accreditation agencies approval persons provide adoption services oversight provider investigations requires secretary homeland_security uscis responsible processing case specific decision making intercountry adoption cases ensure intercountry adoption suitability eligibility determinations prospective adoptive parents compliance ensure non convention adoption cases undergo specified responsible case processing steps convention non convention adoption petitions behalf children parents propose united_states establishes international_development usaid center excellence children adversity authorizes president provide assistance programs developing countries nutrition education care protection children requires president establish system monitor evaluate effectiveness aid children adversity usaid carry priority country demonstration program implementing december action plan children adversity period years countries


Summary:
Domestic Violence Safety Plan Grant Program Act of 2015 or My Sister's Keeper Act of 2015

 Directs the Attorney General to establish a program to award grants to eligible state and local governments, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations to develop, promote, and teach the importance of the critical role that can be played by relatives, friends, and co-workers in combatting domestic violence.

domestic violence safety plan grant program act sister directs attorney general establish program award grants eligible state local governments educational institutions non profit organizations develop promote teach importance critical role played relatives workers combatting domestic violence


Summary:
Adoption Promotion Act of 2015

Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to direct the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that pregnancy options counseling funded through training grants for family planning service program personnel includes adoption counseling and is provided by licensed social workers or counselors who have knowledge and experience in adoption practice. Requires that family planning service program training include training on the adoption process.

Requires research related to family planning and population funded under the PHSA to include: (1) the collection of data on the number of pregnancy tests administered to individuals served by family planning service programs and the results of those tests; and (2) the evaluation of the quality, consistency, and outcomes of pregnancy options counseling.

adoption promotion act amends public_health_service_act phsa direct department_of_health_and_human_services ensure pregnancy options counseling funded training grants family planning service program personnel includes adoption counseling provided licensed social workers counselors knowledge experience adoption practice requires family planning service program training include training adoption process requires research related family planning population funded phsa include collection data number pregnancy tests administered individuals served family planning service programs results tests evaluation quality consistency outcomes pregnancy options counseling


Summary:
Improving Education for Foster Youth Act

Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to require states that receive ESEA assistance to implement policies ensuring that foster care children who are changing schools can transfer school credits and receive partial credits for coursework satisfactorily completed while attending a prior school or educational program.

foster youth act amends elementary secondary education act esea require states receive esea assistance implement policies ensuring foster care children changing schools transfer school credits receive partial credits coursework satisfactorily completed attending prior school educational program


Summary:
Family-Based Foster Care Services Act of 2015

 Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to extend medical assistance coverage to therapeutic foster care services.

Requires a qualified therapeutic foster care program to be state-licensed and provide:

 foster care children under 21 with structured daily activities, including the development of age-appropriate social, communication and behavioral skills, trauma-informed and gender-responsive services, crisis intervention and crisis support services, medication monitoring, counseling, and case management; and biological parents, kinship caregivers, and foster care parents with specialized training and consultation in the management of children with mental illness, trauma, other emotional or behavioral disorders, medically fragile conditions, or developmental disabilities, the impact of trauma on child and caregiver, and specific additional training on the needs of each child provided such services.

act amends title xix medicaid social security act extend medical assistance coverage therapeutic foster care services requires qualified therapeutic foster care program state licensed provide foster care children structured daily activities including development age appropriate social communication behavioral skills trauma informed gender responsive services crisis intervention crisis support services medication monitoring counseling case management biological parents kinship caregivers foster care parents specialized training consultation management children mental illness trauma emotional behavioral disorders medically fragile conditions developmental disabilities impact trauma child caregiver specific additional training needs child provided services


Summary:
Rape Survivor Child Custody Act

 Directs the Attorney General to make grants to states that have in place a law that allows the mother of any child that was conceived through rape to seek court-ordered termination of the parental rights of her rapist with regard to that child, which the court shall grant upon clear and convincing evidence of rape.

Limits such a grant to: (1) an amount that is not greater than 10% of the average of the total funding of the three most recent awards a state received under the STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program and the Sexual Assault Services Program; and (2) a one-year term, subject to renewal for not more than three additional years.

Requires a state that receives such a grant to use: (1) 25% of grant funds for permissible uses under the STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program, and (2) 75% of funds for permissible uses under the Sexual Assault Services Program.

rape survivor child custody act directs attorney general grants states place law allows mother child conceived rape seek court ordered termination parental rights regard child court shall grant clear convincing evidence rape limits grant greater average total funding recent awards state received year term subject renewal additional years requires state receives grant use grant funds permissible uses stop violence women formula grant program funds permissible uses


Summary:
Child Tax Credit Permanency Act of 2015

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the child tax credit, to: (1) adjust the earned income threshold for determining the amount of the refundable portion of such credit, and (2) provide for an inflation adjustment to the $1,000 credit amount for calendar years after 2013.

bill amends internal_revenue_code respect child tax credit adjust earned income threshold determining refundable portion credit provide inflation adjustment credit calendar years


Summary:
Child Tax Credit Integrity Preservation Act of 2015

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the identification requirement for the child tax credit to require taxpayers to provide a valid identification number (i.e., a Social Security account number issued by the Social Security Administration) on their tax returns in addition to the name and identification number of each qualifying child.

child_tax_credit_integrity_preservation_act amends internal revenue code expand identification requirement child tax credit require taxpayers provide valid identification number social_security account number issued social_security_administration tax returns addition identification number qualifying child


Summary:
Jane's Law

 Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or a prison term of up to two years on any person who travels in interstate or foreign commerce to evade compliance with a court-ordered property distribution in a divorce proceeding involving more than $5,000. Requires payment of restitution equal to the total unpaid property distribution from any person convicted of evading payment.

law amends federal criminal code impose fine prison term years person travels interstate foreign commerce evade compliance court ordered property distribution divorce proceeding involving requires payment restitution equal total unpaid property distribution person convicted evading payment


Summary:
Helping Working Families Afford Child Care Act

Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credit for employment-related expenses incurred for the care of a taxpayer's dependent, to: (1) increase to $110,000, the adjusted gross income threshold level above which such credit is incrementally reduced; (2) increase the dollar limit on the allowable amount of such credit; (3) allow an inflation adjustment to the threshold amount and the maximum credit amounts, beginning after 2016; and (4) make such credit refundable.

helping working families afford child care act amends internal revenue code respect tax credit employment related expenses incurred care taxpayer dependent increase adjusted gross income threshold level credit incrementally reduced increase dollar limit allowable credit allow inflation adjustment threshold maximum credit amounts beginning credit refundable


Summary:
Rehab and Ahmed Amer Foster Care Improvement Act of 2015

 Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to revise requirements that states must follow to contact the adult relatives of a child removed from the custody of his or her parents.

Requires the state, within 90 days after making a placement decision, to provide notice of the decision and the reasons for it to each parent of the child, each relative who has expressed an interest in caring for the child, the guardian, and other specified parties.

Requires the state to establish procedures to: (1) allow a person who receives such a notice to request documentation of the reasons for the decision involved, (2) allow the attorney for the child to petition the court involved to review the decision, and (3) require the court to commence such a review on the record after receiving such a petition.

improvement act amends foster care adoption assistance title social security act revise requirements states follow contact adult relatives child removed custody parents requires state days making placement decision provide notice decision reasons parent child relative expressed interest caring child guardian specified parties requires state establish procedures allow person receives notice request documentation reasons decision involved allow attorney child petition court involved review decision require court commence review record receiving petition


Summary:
Restrain the Judges on Marriage Act of 2015

Amends the federal judicial code to deny federal courts jurisdiction to hear or decide any question pertaining to the interpretation, or the validity under the Constitution, of: (1) any type of marriage, (2) the provision of the Defense of Marriage Act declaring that no state shall be required to give effect to any marriage between persons of the same sex under the laws of any other state, or (3) this Act.

Prohibits federal funds from being used for: (1) litigation in federal courts on such questions, or (2) enforcement of federal court orders or judgments on such questions.

restrain judges marriage act amends federal judicial code deny federal courts jurisdiction hear decide question pertaining interpretation validity constitution type marriage provision defense_of_marriage_act declaring state shall required effect marriage persons sex laws state act prohibits federal funds litigation federal courts questions enforcement federal court orders judgments questions