Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 122.djvu/3980

 12 2 STA T .3957PUBLIC LA W 11 0– 351 —O CT. 7 , 200 8SEC.104 . LI CE N SIN G S TA N D A R DS FO R RELATI V ES. (a)STA T EPL A NAM EN D MENT .— S ection471 (a)(1 0 )o f t h e Socia l Sec ur it y Act (4 2U .S. C . 6 71(a)(10)) i s a m en d ed— (1) b y stri k in g‘ ‘and p ro v ides ’ ’ and inserting ‘‘provides’’ and (2) by inserting before the semicolon the follo w ing

‘‘, and provides that a waiver of any such standard may be made only on a case - by-case basis for non-safety standards (as deter- mined by the State) in relative foster family homes for specific children in care’’. (b) R E POR T.— N ot later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of H ealth and Human Services shall submit to the Committee on W ays and M eans of the House of Representatives and the Committee on F inance of the Senate a report that includes the following: (1) Nationally and for each State, the number and percent- age of children in foster care placed in licensed relative foster family homes and the number and percentage of such children placed in unlicensed relative foster family homes. (2) T he fre q uency with which States grant case-by-case waivers of non-safety licensing standards for relative foster family homes. ( 3 ) The types of non-safety licensing standards waived. (4) An assessment of how such case-by-case waivers of non-safety licensing standards have affected children in foster care, including their safety, permanency, and well-being. ( 5 ) A review of any reasons why relative foster family homes may not be able to be licensed, despite State authority to grant such case-by-case waivers of non-safety licensing stand- ards. (6) Recommendations for administrative or legislative actions that may increase the percentage of relative foster family homes that are licensed while ensuring the safety of children in foster care and improving their permanence and well-being. SEC. 10 5 . A U T H ORIT Y FOR CO MP ARISONS AND DISCLOSURES OF INFORMATION IN THE FEDERAL PARENT LOCATOR SERVICE FOR CHILD W ELFARE , FOSTER CARE, AND ADOP - TION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PURPOSES. Section 453( j )(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 653(j)) is amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘, part B , or part E ’’ after ‘‘this part’’. TI T LE II — I MPROV I NG O U T C OME SF OR C H IL D REN IN FOSTER C A RE SEC. 2 01. STATE OPTION FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE, AND CER- TAIN CHILDREN IN AN ADOPTIVE OR GUARDIANSHIP PLACEMENT, AFTER ATTAINING AGE 1 8 . (a) D E FI NITION OF C H ILD.—Section 475 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 675) is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘( 8 )(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), the term ‘child’ means an individual who has not attained 18 years of age. ‘‘(B) At the option of a State, the term shall include an individual—

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