Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Court Improvement Equity Act”.
Court Improvement Equity Act
A BILL
To authorize grants to be made on an equitable basis to highest courts to assess and improve the handling of foster care and adoption proceedings, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Equitable allocation of court improvement grants to highest courts
In general— Section 438(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629h(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(4) Certain jurisdictions
“(A) In general—From the amounts reserved under section 436(b)(2) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall, before applying paragraph (1) of this subsection, allocate the dollar amount set forth in paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection for a grant to the highest court of each State that applies therefor and does not operate a program under part E.
“(B) Use of funds—A highest court to which a grant is made under this paragraph shall use the grant, consistent with subsection (a), to assess and make improvements to court processes and proceedings relating to child safety, permanency, and well-being.
“(C) State defined—In subparagraph (A), the term State means Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
“(D) Authority to request expenditure information—On request of the Secretary, an entity to which a grant is made under this paragraph shall provide the Secretary with such information about the expenditure of the grant as the Secretary may request.”
Conforming amendment— Section 438(c)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 629h(c)(2)) is amended by striking “(1)(A) and (3)” and inserting “(1)(A), (3), and (4)(A)”.