H.R. 10128House118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Court Improvement Equity Act

Introduced November 14, 2024

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 7:54 PM UTC

The Court Improvement Equity Act would let the Secretary of Health and Human Services allocate a portion of existing court‑improvement grant funds to the highest court in each state and U.S. territory that does not already run a child‑welfare program. The grants must be used to assess and improve court processes related to foster care and adoption, with the goal of better protecting children’s safety and permanency. The bill amends the Social Security Act to create this new grant category and requires reporting on how the money is spent.

Key Provisions

  • Creates a new grant category for the highest court of each state and territories (Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands) that lack a part‑E child‑welfare program, using funds reserved under existing court‑improvement grants
  • Requires recipient courts to use the grant to evaluate and improve procedures concerning child safety, permanency, and well‑being in foster care and adoption cases
  • Expands the definition of “State” in the grant provision to include Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands
  • Allows the Secretary to request detailed expenditure information from grant recipients

Legislative Activity

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3 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Work and Welfare.

December 17, 2024

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HouseIntro Referral

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1141)

November 14, 2024

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

November 14, 2024

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

November 14, 2024

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Work and Welfare.

December 17, 2024

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in HouseIssued November 14, 2024

I

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10128

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 14, 2024

Mr. Sablan (for himself and Mr. Moylan) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

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.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Court Improvement Equity Act.

2.

Equitable allocation of court improvement grants to highest courts

(a)

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.

.

(b)

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).