§ 673c. Timely interstate home study incentive payments

(a) Grant authority

The Secretary shall make a grant to each State that is a home study incentive-eligible State for a fiscal year in an amount equal to the timely interstate home study incentive payment payable to the State under this section for the fiscal year, which shall be payable in the immediately succeeding fiscal year.

(b) Home study incentive-eligible State

A State is a home study incentive-eligible State for a fiscal year if—

(1) the State has a plan approved under this part for the fiscal year;

(2) the State is in compliance with subsection (c) for the fiscal year; and

(3) based on data submitted and verified pursuant to subsection (c), the State has completed a timely interstate home study during the fiscal year.

(1) In general

A State is in compliance with this subsection for a fiscal year if the State has provided to the Secretary a written report, covering the preceding fiscal year, that specifies—

(A) the total number of interstate home studies requested by the State with respect to children in foster care under the responsibility of the State, and with respect to each such study, the identity of the other State involved;

(B) the total number of timely interstate home studies completed by the State with respect to children in foster care under the responsibility of other States, and with respect to each such study, the identity of the other State involved; and

(C) such other information as the Secretary may require in order to determine whether the State is a home study incentive-eligible State.

(2) Verification of data

In determining the number of timely interstate home studies to be attributed to a State under this section, the Secretary shall check the data provided by the State under paragraph (1) against complementary data so provided by other States.

(d) Timely interstate home study incentive payments

(1) In general

The timely interstate home study incentive payment payable to a State for a fiscal year shall be $1,500, multiplied by the number of timely interstate home studies attributed to the State under this section during the fiscal year, subject to paragraph (2).

(2) Pro rata adjustment if insufficient funds available

If the total amount of timely interstate home study incentive payments otherwise payable under this section for a fiscal year exceeds the total of the amounts made available pursuant to subsection (h) for the fiscal year (reduced (but not below zero) by the total of the amounts (if any) payable under paragraph (3) of this subsection with respect to the preceding fiscal year), the amount of each such otherwise payable incentive payment shall be reduced by a percentage equal to—

(A) the total of the amounts so made available (as so reduced); divided by

(B) the total of such otherwise payable incentive payments.

(3) Appropriations available for unpaid incentive payments for prior fiscal years

(A) In general

If payments under this section are reduced under paragraph (2) or subparagraph (B) of this paragraph for a fiscal year, then, before making any other payment under this section for the next fiscal year, the Secretary shall pay each State whose payment was so reduced an amount equal to the total amount of the reductions which applied to the State, subject to subparagraph (B) of this paragraph.

(B) Pro rata adjustment if insufficient funds available

If the total amount of payments otherwise payable under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph for a fiscal year exceeds the total of the amounts made available pursuant to subsection (h) for the fiscal year, the amount of each such payment shall be reduced by a percentage equal to—

(i) the total of the amounts so made available; divided by

(ii) the total of such otherwise payable payments.

(e) Two-year availability of incentive payments

Payments to a State under this section in a fiscal year shall remain available for use by the State through the end of the next fiscal year.

(f) Limitations on use of incentive payments

A State shall not expend an amount paid to the State under this section except to provide to children or families any service (including post-adoption services) that may be provided under part B or this part. Amounts expended by a State in accordance with the preceding sentence shall be disregarded in determining State expenditures for purposes of Federal matching payments under sections 623, 629d, and 674 of this title.

(g) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Home study

The term “home study” means an evaluation of a home environment conducted in accordance with applicable requirements of the State in which the home is located, to determine whether a proposed placement of a child would meet the individual needs of the child, including the child’s safety, permanency, health, well-being, and mental, emotional, and physical development.

(2) Interstate home study

The term “interstate home study” means a home study conducted by a State at the request of another State, to facilitate an adoptive or foster placement in the State of a child in foster care under the responsibility of the State.

(3) Timely interstate home study

The term “timely interstate home study” means an interstate home study completed by a State if the State provides to the State that requested the study, within 30 days after receipt of the request, a report on the results of the study. The preceding sentence shall not be construed to require the State to have completed, within the 30-day period, the parts of the home study involving the education and training of the prospective foster or adoptive parents.

(h) Limitations on authorization of appropriations

(1) In general

For payments under this section, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary—

(A) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;

(B) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;

(D) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.

(2) Availability

Amounts appropriated under paragraph (1) are authorized to remain available until expended.

U.S. Code

§ 673c. Timely interstate home study incentive payments