Sec. 5. Modifications to Chafee Foster Care Independence Program
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Section 477 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 677 ) is amended— in subsection (a)(6), by striking 16 and inserting 14 ; by striking 18 each place it appears (except in subsection (b)(3)(C)) and inserting 21 ; by striking 21 each place it appears (except in subsection (f)) and inserting 26 ; and by striking 23 each place it appears and inserting 28 . Section 477(b)(3) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 677(b)(3) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State will not charge youths eligible for services under the State program of any State under this section tuition for attendance at a public institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965) or a postsecondary vocational institution (as defined in section 102(c) of such Act) in the State at a rate that is greater than the rate charged for residents of the State for such attendance. .
Section 477(b)(3) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 677(b)(3) ), as amended by subsection (b), is further amended— in subparagraph (F), by striking abstinence education programs and inserting comprehensive sexual education programs ; in subparagraph (K)— by inserting financial and before health care treatment ; and by inserting a durable power of attorney for finances, and before a health care power of attorney ; and by adding at the end the following: A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State will— ensure that each youth participating in the program under this section is provided with— a financial education that helps the youth understand basic financial topics, including budgeting, managing bank accounts, interest rates, savings, credit, retirement, investment, insurance, mortgages, loans, and identity theft and protection; assistance with establishing a checking account and a savings account at no cost to the youth; and information about participating, and assistance with enrolling, in an individual development account (as defined in section 404(5) of the Assets for Independence Act ( 42 U.S.C. 604(5) ); and designate at least 10 percent of the amount paid to the State from its allotment under subsection
(c)for a fiscal year to provide for an additional State match of the youth’s contributions to an individual development account (as so defined). A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State will ensure that each youth participating in the program under this section is provided with information about identifying and applying for public and private scholarships, grants, and loans to continue education or career training, including (if requested by the youth) individualized assistance with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State will ensure that each youth participating in the program under this section is provided with information about the availability of various mental and behavioral health services in the youth’s community and an explanation of how those services generally benefit youth who have experienced foster care. A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that, if the State has a voter registration requirement for any voter in the State with respect to an election for Federal office, the State will ensure that each youth participating in the program under this section who is a United States citizen and who meets the qualifications to be a voter under State law is, on an annual basis and not later than three months before the earlier of the date of the general election or the date that is the deadline for registration for a general election, provided with written notice of the youth’s voter registration status and, if the youth is not registered to vote, provided with the opportunity to register to vote. A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State will ensure that each youth participating in the program under this section who is not a citizen of the United States is provided with information about maintaining or acquiring legal status, including information about how to begin or complete the process of naturalization. A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State will ensure that each youth participating in the program under this section has the opportunity to participate, at no expense to the youth, in a mentoring program or another program designed to build personal and emotional connections between adults and children aging out of foster care, and that each youth is provided with information about participating in such a program on no less than an annual basis, which shall include an explanation of how such programs and connections generally benefit youth who have experienced foster care. A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State will— inquire of each individual convicted of a State offense (including juveniles), if such individual, at the time of conviction, was in foster care, or was previously in foster care at any point; inquire of each individual convicted of a State offense who is or was in foster care the circumstances and duration of foster care; inform each individual convicted of a State offense who is or was in foster care of the right to decline to answer questions under clause (ii); and report to the Secretary on an annual basis, in such form as the Secretary may require— the number of individuals convicted of a State offense in the preceding year, disaggregated by type of conviction; the number of individuals convicted of a State offense in the preceding year who are or were in foster care, disaggregated by type of conviction; the number of individuals held in incarceration for a Federal offense in the preceding year, disaggregated by type of conviction; the number of individuals held in incarceration for a Federal offense in the preceding year who are or were in foster care, disaggregated by type of conviction; the total estimated cost of incarceration for each person who is or was in foster care; and such other information as the Secretary may require. . Section 477(h) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 677(h) ) is amended— in paragraph (1), by striking $140,000,000, or, beginning in fiscal year 2021, $143,000,000 and inserting $429,000,000 ; and in paragraph (2), by striking $60,000,000 and inserting $180,000,000 . Section 477(i) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 677(i) ) is amended— in paragraph (1), by striking may and inserting shall ; in paragraph (2)— by striking 16 and inserting 14 ; and by striking may and inserting shall ; in paragraph (3)— by striking may allow and inserting shall allow ; by striking 26 and inserting 28 ; and by striking , but in no event may a youth participate in the program for more than 5 years (whether or not consecutive) and inserting , except that the State shall allow youths participating in the voucher program who attain 28 years of age to complete their postsecondary education or training program ; by amending paragraph
(4)to read as follows: The voucher or vouchers provided for an individual under this section shall be available for, and in an amount that shall not exceed, the cost of attendance (as defined in section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965) at an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965) or a postsecondary vocational institution (as defined in section 102(c) of such Act). ; and in paragraph (5), by striking may and inserting shall . The amendments made by this section shall take effect on June 1, 2021, except that the amendments made by subsection
(d)shall apply with respect to fiscal years beginning with fiscal year 2021. If a State demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary that it is necessary to amend State law in order to change a particular practice that is inconsistent with this Act, the Secretary may extend the compliance date for the State a reasonable number of days after the close of the first State legislative session beginning after the date of the enactment of the Fostering Healthy Transitions into Adulthood Act of 2020.
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