Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 120.djvu/544

 PUBLIC LAW 109–239—JULY 3, 2006

120 STAT. 513

(A) by inserting ‘‘a copy of the record is’’ before ‘‘supplied’’; and (B) by inserting ‘‘, and is supplied to the child at no cost at the time the child leaves foster care if the child is leaving foster care by reason of having attained the age of majority under State law’’ before the semicolon. SEC. 8. RIGHT TO BE HEARD IN FOSTER CARE PROCEEDINGS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 475(5)(G) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 675(5)(G)) is amended— (1) by striking ‘‘an opportunity’’ and inserting ‘‘a right’’; (2) by striking ‘‘and opportunity’’ and inserting ‘‘and right’’; and (3) by striking ‘‘review or hearing’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘proceeding’’. (b) NOTICE OF PROCEEDING.—Section 438(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 638(b)) is amended by inserting ‘‘shall have in effect a rule requiring State courts to ensure that foster parents, pre-adoptive parents, and relative caregivers of a child in foster care under the responsibility of the State are notified of any proceeding to be held with respect to the child, and’’ after ‘‘highest State court’’.

42 USC 629h.

SEC. 9. COURT IMPROVEMENT.

Section 438(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629h(a)(1)) is amended— (1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subparagraph (C); and (2) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘(E) that determine the best strategy to use to expedite the interstate placement of children, including— ‘‘(i) requiring courts in different States to cooperate in the sharing of information; ‘‘(ii) authorizing courts to obtain information and testimony from agencies and parties in other States without requiring interstate travel by the agencies and parties; and ‘‘(iii) permitting the participation of parents, children, other necessary parties, and attorneys in cases involving interstate placement without requiring their interstate travel; and’’. SEC. 10. REASONABLE EFFORTS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 471(a)(15)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 671(a)(15)(C)) is amended by inserting ‘‘(including, if appropriate, through an interstate placement)’’ after ‘‘accordance with the permanency plan’’. (b) PERMANENCY HEARING.—Section 471(a)(15)(E)(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 671(a)(15)(E)(i)) is amended by inserting ‘‘, which considers in-State and out-of-State permanent placement options for the child,’’ before ‘‘shall’’. (c) CONCURRENT PLANNING.—Section 471(a)(15)(F) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 671(a)(15)(F)) is amended by inserting ‘‘, including identifying appropriate in-State and out-of-State placements’’ before ‘‘may’’. SEC. 11. CASE PLANS.

Section 475(1)(E) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 675(1)(E)) is amended by inserting ‘‘to facilitate orderly and timely in-State and interstate placements’’ before the period.

VerDate 14-DEC-2004

10:20 Jul 12, 2007

Jkt 059194

PO 00001

Frm 00511

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL001.109

APPS06

PsN: PUBL001

�