To temporarily modify the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and for other purposes.

This bill expands through FY2021 foster-care programs for older youth. Among other changes, the bill (1) increases the federal proportion of funding for foster-care services, (2) extends eligibility for such services through age 25, (3) suspends the limit on state expenditures on housing for youth who have aged out of foster care, and (4) suspends the five-year time limit on eligibility for older youth to receive education and training vouchers.

Additionally, state agencies must conduct outreach for enrollment in Medicaid to eligible individuals who have aged out of foster care.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6766 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6766

   To temporarily modify the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for 
    Successful Transition to Adulthood in response to the COVID-19 
                   pandemic, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 8, 2020

    Mr. Langevin (for himself, Mr. Bacon, Ms. Bass, and Mr. Mullin) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
    Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and 
   Commerce, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To temporarily modify the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for 
    Successful Transition to Adulthood in response to the COVID-19 
                   pandemic, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. TEMPORARY MODIFICATIONS TO THE JOHN H. CHAFEE FOSTER CARE 
              PROGRAM FOR SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD IN 
              RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

    (a) Increase in Funding.--
            (1) Generally.--The dollar amount specified in section 
        477(h)(1) of the Social Security Act for fiscal year 2020 is 
        deemed to be $483,000,000--
                    (A) of which $340,000,000 shall be available 
                through the end of fiscal year 2021 for the purpose 
                described in section 477(a)(4) of such Act; and
                    (B) the remainder of which shall be available as 
                provided in such section 477(h)(1).
            (2) Education and training vouchers.--The dollar amount 
        specified in section 477(h)(2) of the Social Security Act for 
        fiscal year 2020 is deemed to be $220,000,000--
                    (A) of which $160,000,000 is authorized to be 
                available through the end of fiscal year 2021 for the 
                purpose described in section 477(a)(5) of such Act; and
                    (B) the remainder of which is authorized to be 
                available as provided in such section 477(h)(2).
    (b) Inapplicability of State Matching Requirement to Additional 
Funds.--
            (1) In general.--In making payments under subsections 
        (a)(4) and (e) of section 474 of the Social Security Act from 
        the additional funds, the percentage specified in subsections 
        (a)(4)(A)(i) and (e)(1) of such section are, respectively, 
        deemed to be 100 percent.
            (2) Additional funds defined.--In paragraph (1) of this 
        subsection, the term ``additional funds'' means the amounts 
        deemed by subsection (a) of this section to be specified in 
        each of paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 477(h) of the Social 
        Security Act, to the extent the amount involved exceeds the 
        amount specified in the respective paragraph without regard to 
        such subsection (a).
    (c) Full and Expeditious Disbursement of Funds.--The Secretary of 
Health and Human Services shall fully disburse the amounts payable to 
States under subsections (a)(4) and (e) of section 474 of the Social 
Security Act, and the amounts payable to Indian tribes, tribal 
organizations, and tribal consortia under section 477(j) of such Act, 
for fiscal years 2020 and 2021 as expeditiously as possible.
    (d) Maximum Age Limitation on Eligibility for Assistance.--During 
fiscal years 2020 and 2021, a child may be eligible for services and 
assistance under section 477 of the Social Security Act until the child 
attains 26 years of age, notwithstanding any contrary certification 
made under such section.
    (e) Waiver of Limitations on Percentage of Funds Used for Housing 
Assistance; Eligibility for Funds.--Notwithstanding sections 
477(b)(3)(B) and 477(b)(3)(C) of the Social Security Act, a State may 
use more than 30 percent of the funds paid to the State from its 
allotment under section 477(c) of such Act for fiscal year 2020 for 
room or board, and the funds may be used for youth eligible for 
services under section 477 of such Act who have attained 18 years of 
age and who experienced foster care at 14 years of age or older.
    (f) Elimination of Certain Requirements.--Section 477(i)(3) of the 
Social Security Act shall have no force or effect during fiscal year 
2020 or 2021.

SEC. 2. MEDICAID OUTREACH.

    The agency of each State that is responsible for administering the 
State plan approved under part E of title IV of the Social Security 
Act, in consultation with such other agencies as are appropriate or 
interested, shall establish and conduct an outreach program designed to 
increase the enrollment of individuals who are eligible for medical 
assistance under the State plan approved under title XIX of such Act by 
reason of section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(IX) of such Act.

SEC. 3. TEMPORARY INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR HUD FAMILY UNIFICATION 
              PROGRAM.

    In addition to any amounts otherwise made available for fiscal year 
2021 for the family unification program under section 8(x) of the 
United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(x)), there is 
authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2021, $20,000,000 for 
assistance under such section for use only for youths eligible for such 
assistance under paragraph (2)(B) of such section.
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