Promoting Childhood Independence and Resilience Act of 2026

(a) In general. The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the 1st day of the 1st fiscal year beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply to payments, grants, and Federal funds for calendar quarters beginning on or after such date.

(b) Delay permitted if State legislation or policy changes are required. If the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines that State legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) is required in order for any State plan approved under subpart 2 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to meet the additional requirements imposed by the amendments made by this Act, 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 1st regular session of the State legislature that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act. For purposes of the preceding sentence, 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. An extension of a determination that the plan has failed to meet any of the additional requirements shall be granted if the State demonstrates its good faith efforts to enact State legislation, or submits a plan to enact rule and policy changes as are within its lawful discretion so as to support reasonable childhood independence activities, and demonstrates that parents and legal guardians allowing a child to participate in reasonable childhood independence activities are excluded under State policy and practices from the threat of criminal or civil charges, custody assessments or investigations, mandated services, child abuse registry, or accusations of child abuse or neglect.