H.R. 8757
Promoting Childhood Independence and Resilience Act of 2026
Sponsor: Blake D. Moore
Official summary
No official summary yet.
Text of the bill
(a) Definitions. Section 3 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (2), by inserting , and does not include a decision by a parent or caretaker to allow a child to participate in reasonable childhood independence activities, unless such a decision was the result of an unreasonable disregard of a foreseeable risk of serious harm after presents an imminent risk of serious harm;
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (8) as paragraphs (7) through (9), respectively; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following new paragraph:
(6) Reasonable childhood independence activities. The term reasonable childhood independence activities—
(A) means activities that—
(i) are carried out by a child, alone or with other children and without direct supervision by an adult or older child; and
(ii) a parent or caregiver reasonably believes are physically and developmentally appropriate for the child without such supervision; and
(B) includes—
(i) playing indoors or outdoors;
(ii) taking public transportation;
(iii) walking or bicycling to or from school or local commercial or recreational facilities;
(iv) running errands;
(v) remaining at home or at any other safe and reasonable location for a reasonable period of time;
(vi) babysitting younger children; and
(vii) remaining in a vehicle for a reasonable period of time and in reasonable conditions while a parent or caregiver is temporarily away from the vehicle, including to run an errand or to accompany another child to school or daycare drop-off or pick-up.
(b) Grants to States for child abuse or neglect prevention and treatment programs. Section 106(a) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a(a)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (4), by striking response; and inserting response, and tools and protocols that ensure that risk and safety assessments account for the importance of reasonable childhood independence activities to a child’s healthy development, and make clear that allowing a child to participate in reasonable childhood independence activities is not child abuse or neglect and that allowing such participation does not justify child welfare system intervention, including separation of any child from the child’s parent or guardian;;
(2) in paragraph (8), by striking neglect; and inserting neglect, including strategies and training protocols that ensure such individuals understand the importance of reasonable childhood independence activities to a child’s healthy development, and understand that allowing a child to participate in reasonable childhood independence activities is not child abuse or neglect and that allowing such participation does not justify child welfare system intervention, including separation of any child from the child’s parent or guardian;; and
(3) in paragraph (10), by striking response; and inserting response, and helping the public better understand that a parent or guardian allowing a child to participate in reasonable childhood independence activities is not child abuse or neglect and that allowing such participation does not justify child welfare system intervention, including separation of any child from the child’s parent or guardian;.
(c) Eligibility requirements. Section 106(b)(2)(B) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a(b)(2)(B)) is amended—
(1) in clause (xxiv), by striking and after the semicolon; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
(xxvi) assurances and protections to ensure that parents and legal guardians may allow a child to participate in reasonable childhood independence activities without fear or threat of criminal or civil charges, custody assessments or investigations, mandated services, child abuse registry, or accusations of child abuse or neglect solely because the parent or legal guardian allows their child to participate in reasonable childhood independence activities; and
(xxvii) provisions and procedures for training child protective services workers, caseworkers, and other employees or contractual agents of child welfare agencies about the importance of reasonable childhood independence activities to a child’s healthy development, and to understand that a parent or legal guardian allowing a child to participate in reasonable childhood independence activities is not cause to suspect child abuse or neglect and that such activities do not justify the separation of any child from the child’s parent or legal guardian;