Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 104 Part 6.djvu/406

 104 STAT. 4796 PUBLIC LAW 101-647—NOV. 29, 1990 42 USC 13014. Grant programs. ' review of cases, and interviewing appropriate parties in order to make recommendations on what would be in the best interests of the child. (3) In awarding grants under this section, the Administrator shall ensure that grants are distributed to localities that have no existing court-appointed special advocate program and to programs in need of expansion. SEC. 218. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. (a) AUTHORIZATION.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this chapter— (1) $5,000,000 in fiscal year 1991; and (2) such sums as may be necessary to carry out this subtitle in each of fiscal years 1992, 1993, and 1994. (b) LIMITATION. —No funds are authorized to be appropriated for a fiscal year to carry out this subtitle unless the aggregate amount appropriated to carry out title II of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (42 U.S.Q. 5611 et seq.) for such fiscal year is not less than the aggregate amount appropriated to carry out such title for the preceding fiscal year. Subtitle C—Child Abuse Training Programs for Judicial Personnel and Practitioners 42 USC 13021. SEC. 221. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. (a) FINDINGS.— The Congress finds that— (1) a large number of juvenile and family courts are inundated with increasing numbers of cases due to increased reports of abuse and neglect, increasing drug-related maltreatment, and insufficient court resources; (2) the amendments made to the Social Security Act by the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 make substantial demands on the courts handling abuse and neglect cases, but provide no assistance to the courts to meet those demands; (3) the Adoption and Child Welfare Act of 1980 requires courts to— (A) determine whether the agency made reasonable ef- forts to prevent foster care placement; (B) approve voluntary nonjudicial placement; and (C) provide procedural safeguards for parents when their parent-child relationship is affected; (4) social welfare agencies press the courts to meet such requirements, yet scarce resources often dictate that courts comply pro forma without undertaking the meaningful judicial inquiry contemplated by Congress in the Adoption and Child Welfare Act of 1980; (5) compliance with the Adoption and Child Welfare Act of 1980 and overall improvements in the judicial response to abuse and neglect cases can best come about through action by top level court administrators and judges with administrative functions who understand the unique aspects of decisions required in child abuse and neglect cases; and

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