P.L. 112–34, Approved September 30, 2011 (125 Stat. 369)

SECTION 1. [42 U.S.C. 1305 note]  SHORT TITLE.

(a)  This Act may be cited as the “Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act”.

SEC 102. [None assigned]  PROMOTING SAFE AND STABLE FAMILY PROGRAM.

(f)  GAO Report on Multiple Sources of Federal Spending and Family Access to Services.—Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report that—

(1)  identifies alternative sources of Federal funding that are being employed by States or other entities for the same purposes for which funding is provided under subpart 1 or 2 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act; and

(2)  assesses the needs of families eligible for services under such program, including identification of underserved communities and information regarding—

(A)  the supports available for caseworkers to appropriately investigate and safely manage their caseloads;

(B)  the length of the wait time for families to receive substance abuse and other preventive services; and

(C)  the number of families on waiting lists for such services and the effect of the delay on healthy, successful reunification outcomes for such families.

SEC 103. [None assigned]  GRANTS FOR TARGETED PURPOSES.

(3)  Evaluations.—Not later than December 31, 2012, and not later than December 31, 2017, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall evaluate the effectiveness of the grants awarded to regional partnerships under section 437(f) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629g(f)) and shall publish a report regarding the results of each evaluation on the website of the Department of Health and Human Services. Each report required to be published under this subsection shall include— (A) an evaluation of the programs and activities conducted, and the services provided, with the grant funds awarded under such section for fiscal years 2007 through 2011, in the case of the evaluation required by December 31, 2012, and for fiscal years 2012 through 2016, in the case of the evaluation required by December 31, 2017; (B) an analysis of the regional partnerships awarded such grants that have, and have not, been successful in achieving the goals and outcomes specified in their grant applications and with respect to the performance indicators established by the Secretary under paragraph (8) of such section that are applicable to their grant awards; and (C) an analysis of the extent to which such grants have been successful in addressing the needs of families with methamphetamine or other substance abuse problems who come to the attention of the child welfare system and in achieving the goals of child safety, permanence, and family stability.

SEC. 107 [42 U.S.C. 653a note]  EFFECTIVE DATE.

(a)  In General.—Except as otherwise provided in this title, this title and the amendments made by this title shall take effect on October 1, 2011, and shall apply to payments under parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act for calendar quarters beginning on or after such date, without regard to whether regulations to implement the amendments are promulgated by such date.

(b)  Delay Permitted if State Legislation Required.—If the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines that State legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) is required in order for a State plan developed pursuant to subpart 1 of part B, or a State plan approved under subpart 2 of part B or part E, of title IV of the Social Security Act to meet the additional requirements imposed by the amendments made by this title, the plan shall not be regarded as failing to meet any of the additional requirements before the 1st day of the 1st calendar quarter beginning after the first regular session of the State legislature that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act. If the State has a 2-year legislative session, each year of the session is deemed to be a separate regular session of the State legislature.