Foster Children Opportunity Act
Bill journey · stage 2 of 5
Under committee review
What it doesSummary introduced in house (May 16, 2013)
Foster Children Opportunity Act - Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to require state plans for foster care and adoption assistance to have procedures to assist alien children in the child welfare system achieve special immigrant juvenile status and lawful permanent resident status before exiting foster care.
Requires case plans to include documentation of the steps the state child welfare agency is taking in assisting children obtain lawful immigrant status before exiting foster care.
Requires a permanency hearing to determine whether a petition for special immigrant juvenile status or lawful permanent resident status has been filed on behalf of an alien foster child and, if it has not been filed, whether it is in the child's best interest to have such a petition filed or to have immigration counsel appointed.
Authorizes the use of court improvement program grant funds to educate and train child welfare and court staff to assist alien children in achieving special immigrant juvenile status, lawful permanent resident status, and other forms of relief under immigration law.
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), on the request of a child welfare agency, to provide technical assistance in carrying out this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to and contract with qualified non-profit or other community-based service providers to perform the assistance.
Amends the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to make an exception to the five-year limited eligibility of qualified aliens for federal means-tested public benefits for individuals who have obtained special immigrant juvenile status.
Makes a similar exception for such individuals with respect to the limited eligibility of qualified aliens for certain Federal programs.
What just happenedJun 3, 2013
Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, and Nutrition.
Who’s behind it
- Introduced in HouseMay 16, 2013
- Jun 3, 2013Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, and Nutrition.
- Jun 3, 2013Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Resources.
- May 16, 2013IntroReferralH11100
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.
- May 16, 2013IntroReferralH11100
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.
- May 16, 2013IntroReferralB00100
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H2666)
- May 16, 2013IntroReferralIntro-H
Introduced in House
- May 16, 2013IntroReferral1000
Introduced in House