[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8866 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8866

To amend subpart 1 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to 
  require States, as a condition of Federal support for child welfare 
   services programs, to facilitate access to advocates and advocacy 
    resources for parents in any child welfare case or interaction 
        involving a child of the parent, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 27, 2024

    Mr. Moore of Alabama (for himself and Ms. Wild) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend subpart 1 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to 
  require States, as a condition of Federal support for child welfare 
   services programs, to facilitate access to advocates and advocacy 
    resources for parents in any child welfare case or interaction 
        involving a child of the parent, 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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Advocates for Families Act of 
2024''.

SEC. 2. FAMILY ADVOCATES IN CHILD WELFARE CASES.

    (a) State Plan Requirements.--Section 422(b) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 622(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (18), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (19), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(20) provide--
                    ``(A) that the laws and procedures of the State 
                shall permit any parent, foster parent, or legal 
                guardian of a child to seek and receive the services of 
                a family advocate, who shall have the authority to 
                represent the interests and act on behalf of the 
                parent, foster parent, or legal guardian, throughout 
                any child welfare case or interaction involving the 
                child, without obligating the State to pay or provide 
                for the services;
                    ``(B) that the State shall implement appropriate 
                standards and rules governing the professional conduct 
                of a family advocate;
                    ``(C) how the State shall inform a parent, foster 
                parent, or legal guardian of a child, from the 
                commencement of any child welfare case or interaction 
                involving the child, of the right to be represented by 
                a family advocate and of any local resources available 
                to obtain the representation; and
                    ``(D) how the State shall inform the Secretary of--
                            ``(i) the effect that honoring the right of 
                        every parent, foster parent, or legal guardian 
                        of a child to be represented by a family 
                        advocate has on the provision of child welfare 
                        services; and
                            ``(ii) any recommendation of the State for 
                        ensuring that a parent, foster parent, or legal 
                        guardian of a child may exercise the right to 
                        be represented by a family advocate.''.
    (b) Report to Congress on Family Advocates.--Subpart 1 of part B of 
title IV of such Act (42 U.S.C. 621-628c) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:

``SEC. 429B. REPORT TO CONGRESS ON FAMILY ADVOCATES.

    ``Within 2 years after the date of enactment of this section, and 
biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a written report with 
respect to the right of a parent, foster parent, or legal guardian of a 
child to be represented by a family advocate, based on the submissions 
of the States pursuant to section 422(b)(23), to--
            ``(1) the Committees on the Judiciary, on Education and the 
        Workforce, and on Ways and Means of the House of 
        Representatives; and
            ``(2) the Committees on the Judiciary, on Health, 
        Education, Labor, and Pensions, and on Finance of the 
        Senate.''.
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