H.R. 7529 — Fresh Starts for Foster Youth Act

This section expands the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood to include legal counseling access among the services provided to current and former foster youth. This section also adds a new state plan requirement under which the chief executive officer must certify that case planning processes address legal issues affecting housing, education, employment entry, and family connections, including State court records, legal recognition of family relationships, and custody and permanency matters.

This section delays the effective date of amendments made by this Act until 1 year after the date of enactment and applies the amendments to payments under section 477 of the Social Security Act only for state plans approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services on or after that date. It further permits an additional delay, until the first day of the first calendar quarter beginning after the first regular session of the state legislature (with each year of a 2-year session deemed a separate regular session), if the Secretary determines that state legislation other than an appropriations measure is required for compliance.