No official summary available for this bill.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4923 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4923
To amend title IV of the Social Security Act to require States to
provide information about available benefits and services to kinship
caregivers.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
August 1, 2024
Mr. Casey (for himself and Mr. Young) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title IV of the Social Security Act to require States to
provide information about available benefits and services to kinship
caregivers.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Informing Grandfamilies Act''.
SEC. 2. STATE NOTIFICATIONS TO KINSHIP CAREGIVERS OF CHILD TANF
RECIPIENTS AND APPLICANTS.
(a) In General.--Section 408(a) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 608(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(13) State requirements regarding notice and guidance to
kinship caregivers.--
``(A) In general.--A State to which a grant is made
under section 403 shall ensure that the State agency
provides to any kinship caregiver of a minor child,
including grandparents and other relative caregivers,
who contacts the State agency seeking assistance under
the State program funded under this part (or under a
State program funded with qualified State expenditures
(as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i))), or if the
child is a recipient of such assistance, written notice
that--
``(i) explains the options of the kinship
caregiver under Federal, State, and local law
to participate in the care and placement of the
child, including the financial ramifications of
the options and any options that may be lost by
choosing certain benefits, including how the
receipt of benefits under the State program
funded under this part (or under a State
program funded with qualified State
expenditures (as defined in section
409(a)(7)(B)(i))) could impact eligibility for
other programs;
``(ii) describes the additional services
and supports that are available for a child
placed in a licensed foster family home;
``(iii) notifies the kinship caregiver of
the availability of guardianship assistance
payments if the State has elected the option to
make guardianship assistance payments under
section 471(a)(28);
``(iv) describes policies under the State
program funded under this part that may help
kinship caregivers and the children they care
for; and
``(v) provides direct contact information
for kinship navigator programs described in
section 427(a)(1) or other agencies, including
the State child welfare agency, and community-
based organizations that provide resources and
assistance, such as legal services, housing,
supplemental nutrition assistance, health care,
and child care.
``(B) Timing of notice.--The notice required under
subparagraph (A)--
``(i) shall be provided to a kinship
caregiver of a minor child at the time that the
kinship caregiver comes into contact with the
State agency regarding assistance under the
State program funded under this part (or under
a State program funded with qualified State
expenditures (as defined in section
409(a)(7)(B)(i)));
``(ii) if applicable, shall be provided to
a kinship caregiver at the time the kinship
caregiver attends an eligibility interview for
assistance (either on the kinship caregiver's
own behalf or on behalf of the child) under
such a program funded under this part; or
``(iii) if the kinship caregiver (or the
child) is already receiving assistance under
such a program on the date of enactment of this
paragraph, shall be sent to the kinship
caregiver as soon as practicable after such
date.
``(C) Provision of guidance to kinship
caregivers.--
``(i) In general.--A State to which a grant
is made under section 403 shall ensure that the
State agency responsible for administering the
State program funded under this part employs a
resource employee or contracts with a
community-based organization. Such resource
employee or community-based organization shall
have the necessary expertise to provide
guidance to kinship caregivers, including
grandparents and other relative caregivers, of
a minor child who is a recipient of or may be
seeking assistance under the program (or under
a State program funded with qualified State
expenditures (as defined in section
409(a)(7)(B)(i))) on--
``(I) eligibility requirements for
a State program funded under this part
(or under a State program funded with
qualified State expenditures (as
defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i))),
including the relevant documentation
and application information required to
apply for such programs;
``(II) legal options regarding
custody and guardianship of the child,
including explaining to the kinship
caregiver how each legal option
corresponds to the availability of
benefits and services, if any;
``(III) eligibility for
guardianship assistance payments if the
State has elected to make guardianship
assistance payments under section
471(a)(28); and
``(IV) how the receipt of benefits
under the State program funded under
this part (or under a State program
funded with qualified State
expenditures (as defined in section
409(a)(7)(B)(i))) could impact
eligibility for other programs.
``(ii) Serving as a liaison.--A resource
employee or community-based organization
described in clause (i) shall serve as a
liaison with other agencies and community-based
organizations that provide resources and
assistance to kinship caregivers, which may
include guidance for initiating the process of
obtaining foster family licensure.''.
(b) Inclusion in State Plan.--Section 402(a)(1)(B) of such Act (42
U.S.C. 602(a)(1)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(vi) The document shall provide a
detailed explanation of how the State intends
to comply with section 408(a)(13).''.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
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