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

that implement this part and part E of this subchapter; that determine the advisability or appropriateness of foster care placement; that determine whether to terminate parental rights; that determine whether to approve the adoption or other permanent placement of a child; 1 1 So in original. Probably should be followed by “and”. requiring courts in different States to cooperate in the sharing of information; authorizing courts to obtain information and testimony from agencies and parties in other States without requiring interstate travel by the agencies and parties; and permitting the participation of parents, children, other necessary parties, and attorneys in cases involving interstate placement without requiring their interstate travel; and 2 2 So in original. The word “and” probably should not appear. that determine the appropriateness and best practices for use of technology to conduct remote hearings, subject to participant consent, including to ensure maximum participation of individuals involved in proceedings and to enable courts to maintain operations in times of public health or other emergencies; to provide for the safety, well-being, and permanence of children in foster care in a timely and complete manner, as set forth in the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 ( Public Law 105–89 ), including the requirements in the Act related to concurrent planning; to implement a corrective action plan, as necessary, resulting from reviews of child and family service programs under section 1320a–2a of this title ; and to increase and improve engagement of the entire family in court processes relating to child welfare, family preservation, family reunification, and adoption, including by training judges, attorneys, and other legal personnel and supporting optimal use of remote hearing technology; and support for technology that allows court proceedings to occur remotely subject to participant consent, including hearings and legal representation; the development of guidance and protocols for responding to the occurrences and coordinating with other agencies; and other activities carried out to ensure backup systems are in place. a description of how courts and child welfare agencies on the local and State levels will use not less than 30 percent of grant funds to collaborate and jointly plan for the collection and sharing of all relevant data and information to demonstrate how improved case tracking and analysis of child abuse and neglect cases will produce safe and timely permanency decisions; a demonstration that a portion of the grant will be used for cross-training initiatives that are jointly planned and executed with the State agency or any other agency under contract with the State to administer the State program under the State plan under subpart 1, the State plan approved under section 629d of this title , or the State plan approved under part E; and a demonstration of meaningful and ongoing collaboration among the courts in the State, the State agency or any other agency under contract with the State who is responsible for administering the State program under this part or part E, and, where applicable, Indian tribes. $255,000; and the amount described in paragraph (2) with respect to the court and the fiscal year. The amount described in this paragraph with respect to a court and a fiscal year is the amount that bears the same ratio to the total of the amounts reserved under sections 629f(b)(1) and 629g(b)(2) of this title for grants under this section for the fiscal year (after applying paragraphs (1)(A) and (3) of this subsection) as the number of individuals in the State in which the court is located who have not attained 21 years of age bears to the total number of such individuals in all States with a highest State court that has an approved application under this section for the fiscal year. are operating a program under part E, in accordance with section 679c of this title ; are seeking to operate a program under part E and have received an implementation grant under section 676 of this title ; or have a court responsible for proceedings related to foster care or adoption. Each highest State court which receives funds paid under this section may use such funds to pay not more than 75 percent of the cost of activities under this section in each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029. technological changes needed for court proceedings for foster care, guardianship, or adoption to be conducted remotely in a way that maximizes engagement and protects the privacy of participants; and the manner in which the proceedings should be conducted. The Secretary shall issue initial guidance required by paragraph (1) with preliminary information on best practices not later than October 1, 2025 . The Secretary shall consult with Indian tribes on the development of appropriate guidelines for State court proceedings involving Indian children to maximize engagement of Indian tribes and provide appropriate guidelines on conducting State court proceedings subject to the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 ( 25 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.). Of the additional amounts made available by reason of section 6 of this Act [ section 6 of div. X of Pub. L. 116–260 , set out as a note under section 629d of this title ], the Secretary shall reserve $10,000,000 for grants under subsection (b) of this section for fiscal year 2021, which shall be considered to be made under section 438 of the Social Security Act [ 42 U.S.C. 629h ]. reserve not more than $500,000 for Tribal court improvement activities; and from the amount remaining after the application of subparagraph (A), make a grant to each highest State court that is approved to receive a grant under section 438 of the Social Security Act for the purpose described in section 438(a)(3) of such Act, for fiscal year 2021. $85,000; and the amount that bears the same ratio to the amount reserved under subsection (a) that remains after the application of paragraph (1)(A) and subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, as the number of individuals in the State in which the court is located who have not attained 21 years of age bears to the total number of such individuals in all States the highest courts of which were awarded a grant under this subsection (based on the most recent year for which data are available from the Bureau of the Census). The grants awarded to the highest State courts under this subsection shall be in addition to any grants made to the courts under section 438 of the Social Security Act for any fiscal year. The Secretary shall award grants to the highest State courts under this subsection without requiring the courts to submit an additional application. The Secretary may establish reporting criteria specific to the grants awarded under this subsection. If a highest State court does not accept a grant awarded under this subsection, or does not agree to comply with any reporting requirements imposed under subparagraph (C) or the use of funds requirements specified in subsection (c), the Secretary shall redistribute the grant funds that would have been awarded to that court under this subsection among the other highest State courts that are awarded grants under this subsection and agree to comply with the reporting and use of funds requirements. The limitation on the use of funds specified in section 438(d) of such Act shall not apply to the grants awarded under this section. Technology investments to facilitate the transition to remote hearings for dependency courts when necessary as a direct result of the COVID–19 public health emergency. Training for judges, attorneys, and caseworkers on facilitating and participating in remote hearings that comply with due process and all applicable law, ensure child safety and well-being, and help inform judicial decision-making. Programs to help families address aspects of the case plan to avoid delays in legal proceedings that would occur as a direct result of the COVID–19 public health emergency. Other purposes to assist courts, court personnel, or related staff related to the COVID–19 public health emergency.” The term ‘COVID–19 public health emergency’ means the public health emergency declared by the Secretary pursuant to section 319 of the Public Health Service Act [ 42 U.S.C. 247d ], entitled ‘Determination that a Public Health Emergency Exists Nationwide as the Result of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus’. The term ‘COVID–19 public health emergency period’ means the period beginning on April 1, 2020 and ending with September 30, 2021 . The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.”