I
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3333
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 3, 2011
Mr. Stark (for himself, Mr. Rangel, Ms. Bass of California, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Becerra, Mr. Polis, Ms. Moore, and Mr. Nadler) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend part E of title IV of the Social Security Act to require States to help alien children in the child welfare system apply for all available forms of immigration relief, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Foster Children Opportunity
Act
.
State plan requirement to have procedures to help alien children in the child welfare system achieve special immigrant juvenile status and lawful permanent resident status
Sect. 471(a)(27) of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 671(a)(27)) is amended by inserting , and
if the child is an alien without a lawful immigration status, for reviewing the
child’s eligibility for special immigrant juvenile status, lawful permanent
resident status, and other forms of relief under immigration law, within 1 year
after the status of the child is first reviewed pursuant to section 475(5)(B),
and annually thereafter, and for assisting the child in applying for special
immigrant juvenile status, lawful permanent resident status, and other forms of
relief under immigration law, so that the child can reasonably be expected to
achieve such relief before exiting foster care, if doing so would be in the
best interests of the child
before the period.
Requirement that State child welfare agencies document their efforts to pursue lawful immigrant status for eligible alien foster children
Section 475(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 675(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
In the case of an alien child who, after a review conducted pursuant to section 471(a)(27), is determined to be a child who may qualify for special immigrant juvenile status, lawful permanent resident status, or other forms of relief under immigration law, documentation of the steps the agency is taking in assisting the child to obtain the status before exiting foster care, including whether the requisite petitions have been filed on behalf of the child, and whether assistance has been provided to secure immigration legal counsel for the child.
.
Requirment to determine whether filing petitions for special immigrant juvenile status and lawful permanent resident status for alien foster children is in the child’s best interest in appropriate cases
Section 475(5)(C)(i) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 675(5)(C)(i)) is amended by inserting , and, in the case
of an alien child without lawful immigration status, the hearing shall
determine whether a petition for special immigrant juvenile status or lawful
permanent resident status has been filed on behalf of the child and, if such a
petition has not been so filed, whether it is in the best interests of the
child, including consideration of the potential effects on family reunification
efforts, to have such a petition so filed or to have immigration counsel
appointed
before the semicolon at the end.
Authority to use court improvement program grant funds to educate and train child welfare and court staff, including judges, social workers, court-appointed special advocates, and lawyers to assist alien children in achieving special immigrant juvenile status, lawful permanent resident status, and other forms of relief under immigration law
Section 438(a)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629h(a)(2)) is amended—
by striking
and
at the end of subparagraph (A);
by adding
and
at the end of subparagraph (B); and
by adding at the end the following:
to educate and train child welfare and court staff, including judges, social workers, court-appointed special advocates, and attorneys to assist alien children in achieving special immigrant juvenile status, lawful permanent resident status, and other forms of relief under immigration law in a timely manner;
.
Technical assistance for child welfare agencies
On request of a State child welfare agency for technical assistance in carrying out the amendments made by this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State, shall provide the assistance, and may award grants to and enter into contracts with qualified non-profit or other community-based service providers with substantive expertise to perform the assistance.
Eligibility for assistance
Public benefits
Federal means-tested public benefits
Section 403(b) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1613(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Exception for individuals who have obtained special immigrant juvenile status
An alien who is granted special immigrant juvenile status under section 101(a)(27)(J) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(J)).
.
Other Federal programs
Section 402 of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1612) is amended—
in subsection (a)(2), by adding at the end the following:
Exception for individuals who have obtained special immigrant juvenile status
With respect to eligibility for benefits for the specified Federal programs described in paragraph (3), paragraph (1) shall not apply to any alien who is granted special immigrant juvenile status under section 101(a)(27)(J) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(J)).
; and
in subsection (b)(2), by adding at the end the following:
Exception for individuals who have obtained special immigrant juvenile status
An alien who is granted special immigrant juvenile status under section 101(a)(27)(J) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(J)).
.
State reimbursement
Section
472(a)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 672(a)(4)) is amended by
inserting , and if the child is an alien who has obtained special
immigrant juvenile status under section 101(a)(27)(J) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act and would have been qualified to receive aid under the State
plan approved under section 402 of this Act in or for the month in which the
agreement described in paragraph (2)(A)(i) of this subsection was entered into
or court proceedings leading to the determination described in paragraph
(2)(A)(ii) of this subsection were initiated if the child had been a United
States citizen, the child shall be considered to satisfy the requirements of
paragraph (3) with respect to the month
before the period.
Effective date
In general
The amendments made by this Act, other than by section 7, shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply to payments under part E of title IV of the Social Security Act for quarters beginning on or after such date.
Delay permitted if State legislation required
In the case of a State plan approved under part E of title IV of the Social Security Act which the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines requires State legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) in order for the plan to meet the additional requirements imposed by this Act, the State plan shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of such part solely on the basis of the failure of the plan to meet such additional requirements before the 1st day of the 1st calendar quarter beginning after the close of the 1st regular session of the State legislature that ends after the 1-year period beginning with the date of the enactment of this Act. For purposes of the preceding sentence, in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative session, each year of the session is deemed to be a separate regular session of the State legislature.
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