A bill to amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to require that equitable distribution of assistance include equitable distribution to Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, and for other purposes

Progress

Timeline

• Mar 24Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Summary

**What this bill does:** This bill would change the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to ensure that Native American tribes and tribal organizations receive fair shares of federal assistance for child abuse prevention and treatment programs. **Who it affects:** - Native American tribes and tribal organizations - Children in tribal communities who may need abuse prevention or treatment services - Federal agencies that distribute child welfare funding **What would change:** Currently, the law requires "equitable distribution" of federal assistance for child abuse prevention programs, but doesn't specifically mention tribes. This bill would explicitly require that tribes and tribal organizations be included in fair distribution of these federal funds. This could mean more resources flowing to tribal communities for programs that prevent child abuse and help children who have experienced abuse. **Current status:** The bill is being reviewed in a Senate committee and has not yet been voted on.

How This Affects You