,i  #aai? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #hgeg  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,may #ab1 #bjbf,mr4   
,moore ( ,utah 7= himself1 ,ms4         
,mc,clellan1 & ,ms4 ,foxx7 introduc$ !  
foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to !          
,committee on ,ways & ,means1 & 9       
addition to ! ,committee on ,education &
 ,work=ce1 = a p]iod to be subsequ5tly  
det]m9$ by ! ,speak]1 9 ea* case =      
consid]ation ( su* provisions z fall )9 
! jurisdiction ( ! committee conc]n$  ,a
 ,,bill  ,to am5d subp>t #b ( "p ,b (   
title ,,iv ( ! ,social ,security ,act to
 address *ild welf>e involvem5t caus$ by
 reasonable *ildhood indep5d5ce         
activities1 to am5d ! ,*ild ,abuse      
,prev5tion & ,treatm5t ,act to promote  
*ildhood indep5d5ce1 & = o!r purposes4  
#a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z 
! ,promot+ ,*ildhood ,indep5d5ce &      
,resili5ce ,act ( #bjbf4  #b4 ,f9d+s ,! 
,congress f9ds ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,am]ican  
families are be+ inve/igat$ & crim9aliz$
 "u ov]zeal\s civil & crim9al *ild      

neglect laws = lett+ _! *ildr5 develop  
resili5ce & indep5d5ce4 ,/ate *ild      
protective s]vices ag5cies are burd5$ by
 frivol\s reports t und]m9e reasonable  
*ildhood indep5d5ce1 p>5tal rights1 &   
family integrity1 & subject *ildr5 & _! 
c>egiv]s to ! trauma ( unnecess>y &     
invasive gov]nm5t inve/igations4  7#b7  
,9 ,ill9ois1 a woman 0 cit$ = *ild      
neglect = inadequate sup]vision aft]    
all[+ h] #aa-1 #i-1 & #e-ye>-old *ildr5 
to play 9 a p>k ne> _! home4  7#c7 ,9   
,m>yl&1 a c\ple 0 f\nd responsible =    
unsub/antiat$ *ild neglect aft] all[+ _!
 #aj- & #f-ye>-old *ildr5 to play       
outside & walk home by !mselves4  7#d7  
,9 ,georgia1 a "m 0 arre/$ & accus$ (   
reckless conduct :5 h] #aj-ye>-old son  
walk$ a mile away f _! home )\t tell+   
anyone4  7#e7 ,9 ,s\? ,c>ol9a1 a "m 0   
arre/$ = unlawful conduct t[>ds a *ild =
 all[+ h] #i-ye>-old daught] to play    
alone at a popul>1 kid-fill$ p>k4  7#f7 
,9 ,nor? ,c>ol9a1 a c\ple 0 *>g$ )      
felony involunt>y manslaught] & *ild    

neglect :5 a driv] hit _! #g-ye>-old son
 & kill$ him :ile walk+ home f a ne>by  
groc]y /ore4 ,!y 7 held on #a1ejj1jjj   
bonds ea*4  7#g7 ,9 ,virg9ia1 ,*ild     
,protective ,s]vices inve/igat$ a c\ple 
num]\s times = all[+ _! ?ree *ildr5 to  
play unsup]vis$ outside1 tell+ ! p>5ts t
 ! *ildr5 ne$ to always be sup]vis$1 ev5
 9 _! own b$rooms4  7#h7 ,9             
,p5nsylvania1 a s+le "m ( two 0 plac$ on
 h] ,/ate's *ild abuse regi/ry aft]     
task+ h] #ac-ye>-old bro!r to babysit h]
 #a-ye>-old *ild4  7#i7 ,/ate           
legislators :o h support$ ,/ate         
legislation to promote *ildhood         
indep5d5ce h rec\nt$ be+ /opp$ 9 _! own 
p>5t+ decisions out ( fe> ( *ild        
protective s]vices or police int]v5tion4
 ,examples include ,mi*igan ,/ate       
,s5ator ,jeff ,irw9's decision to all[ a
 ?ird grad] to walk to _! ne>by s*ool1  
,colorado ,/ate ,repres5tative ,kim     
,ransom's decision to run into a gas    
/ation to pay = gas dur+ a sn[/orm &    
leave kids 9 ! van1 & ,s\? ,c>ol9a      

,s5ator ,wes ,clim]'s decision to all[ a
 #e-ye>-old *ild to be outside 9 8 own  
y>d4 ,9 he>+s on ,/ate legislation      
across ! c\ntry1 ,democrat & ,republican
 legislators rem>k$ on gr[+ up ) mu* m  
fre$om to play1 roam1 & run err&s )\t   
con/ant adult managem5t ( _! :]eab\ts & 
activities4  7#aj7 ,*ildr5 sp5d #ej     
p]c5t less "t 9 un/ructur$ outdoor      
actives ?an *ildr5 9 ! #aigjs4 ,! av]age
 ,am]ican *ild sp5ds #d to #g m9utes a  
day outside 9 un/ructur$ play4  7#aa7   
,less ?an #be p]c5t ( *ildr5 betwe5 ages
 #f & #ag rea* ! recomm5d$ #fj m9utes ( 
physical activity ea* day1 & *ildhood   
obesity has tripl$ s9ce ! #aigjs4  7#ab7
 ,cross-age int]actions h be5 %[n to    
develop social skills & ! ability to    
le>n4  7#ac7 ,! p]c5tage ( te5s :o meet 
up ) _! fri5ds almo/ e day has be5 on a 
/eady decl9e s9ce ! #aihjs4  7#ad7      
,face-to-face socializ+ betwe5 te5ag]s  
has fall5 by ov] #de p]c5t f #bjjc to   
#bjbb4  7#ae7 ,m ?an half ( ,g5]ation ,z
 report t z *ildr5 !y felt lonely at    

lea/ once or twice a mon?--ne>ly d\ble !
 report$ numb] ( ,baby ,boom]s :5 !y 7  
"y4  7#af7 ,accord+ to ! ,am]ican       
,academy ( ,p$iatrics1 *ildr5 are sp5d+ 
an av]age ( #g h\rs a day on ent]ta9m5t 
m$ia1 includ+ phones1 electronic        
devices1 & television4  7#ag7 ,excessive
 scre5 "t = "y *ildr5 increases ! risk (
 att5tion & behavioral problems1 poor   
sleep1 anxiety1 depression1 aggression1 
& hyp]activity4  7#ah7 ,z *ildhood      
indep5d5ce & free play h decreas$ ov] ! 
decades1 ! p]c5tage ( *ildr5 suff]+ f   
anxiety & depression has increas$4 ,!   
rates ( te5s ) ,major ,depressive       
,disord] & ,g5]aliz$ ,anxiety ,disord]  
rose by at lea/ #e-;fold f #aiej to     
#aiij4  7#ai7 ,p$iatric hospitalizations
 due to m5tal heal? increas$ by #be     
p]c5t betwe5 #bjji & #bjai4  7#bj7 ,e>ly
 scre5 use has be5 f\nd to l[] academic 
p]=mance4  7#ba7 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates       
,dep>tm5t ( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices has
 prioritiz$ r$uc+ ! am\nt ( "t t *ildr5 
sp5d on scre5s1 cit+ x z a key heal?    

improvem5t priority4  #c4 ,def9itions ,9
 ?is ,act1 ! t]m reasonable *ildhood    
indep5d5ce activities has ! mean+ giv5  
su* t]m 9 section #c ( ! ,*ild ,abuse   
,prev5tion & ,treatm5t ,act 7#db        
,u4,s4,c4 #eaja note71 z am5d$ by       
section #f ( ?is ,act4  #d4 ,/udy by !  
,secret>y ( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices    
7a7 ,9 g5]al ,)9 #ahj days aft] ! date (
 ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (   
,heal? & ,human ,s]vices %all conduct a 
/udy on h[ ,/ates & ,/ate *ild welf>e   
ag5cies c be/ emp[] p>5ts to give *ildr5
 opportunities to p>ticipate 9          
reasonable *ildhood indep5d5ce          
activities )\t direct adult sup]vision4 
7b7 ,report ,)9 #ahj days aft] ! date ( 
! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (    
,heal? & ,human ,s]vices %all transmit  
to ea* ,/ate & to ! ,committees on ,ways
 & ,means & on ,education & ,work=ce ( !
 ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & ! ,committees
 on ,heal?1 ,education1 ,labor &        
,p5sions & on ,f9ance ( ! ,s5ate a      
report t-- 7#a7 sets =? ! recomm5dations

 ( ! ,secret>y on h[ reasonable *ildhood
 indep5d5ce activities c promote        
indep5d5ce & resili5ce 9 ,am]ican       
*ildr52  7#b7 id5tifies community       
supports1 public aw>5ess campaigns1     
toolkits1 o!r res\rces support+ *ildhood
 indep5d5ce1 or o!r be/ practices t c\ld
 help p>5ts *oose to all[ _! *ildr5 to  
p>ticipate 9 reasonable *ildhood        
indep5d5ce activities )\t direct adult  
sup]vision2  7#c7 sets =? recomm5dations
 = h[ *ild protective s]vices & *ild    
welf>e ag5cies c\ld ease p>5tal fe> &   
anxiety & increase ! ability & will+ness
 ( p>5ts to all[ *ildr5 to p>ticipate 9 
reasonable *ildhood indep5d5ce          
activities )\t direct sup]vision2 &     
7#d7 includes a review ( :e!r ! risk    
assessm5t protocols or ! inve/igation or
 prosecutorial practices ( ,/ate *ild   
welf>e sy/ems p5alize1 ?reat51 or det]  
p>5ts :o all[ _! *ildr5 to p>ticipate 9 
reasonable *ildhood indep5d5ce          
activities1 & sets =? recomm5dations to 
ensure t ! protocols & practices support

 & emp[] p>5ts :o all[ _! *ildr5 to     
p>ticipate 9 reasonable *ildhood        
indep5d5ce activities4  #e4 ,promot+    
*ildhood indep5d5ce  7a7 ,m>ylee ,all5  
,promot+ ,safe & ,/able ,families       
,program  7#a7 ,/ate plan requirem5t    
,section #dcb7;a7 ( ! ,social ,security 
,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fbi;b7a77 is       
am5d$-- 7,a7 9 p>agraph 7#aj71 by /rik+ 
& aft] ! semicolon2  7,b7 9 p>agraph    
7#aa71 by /rik+ ! p]iod & ins]t+ 2 &2 & 
7,c7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7#ab7  
provides a description ( ! ,/ate        
policies 9 place1 includ+ tra9+ =       
employees1 to address *ild welf>e       
reports & inve/igations conc]n+ ! liv+  
arrangem5ts or ne$s ( a *ild1 ) ! goal (
 prev5t+ unnecess>y & traumatic         
inve/igations ( p>5ts or ! sep>ation ( a
 *ild f a p>5t or cu/odian ( ! *ild     
solely due to ! *ild p>ticipat+ 9       
reasonable *ildhood indep5d5ce          
activities4  4  7#b7 ,def9ition (       
reasonable *ildhood indep5d5ce          
activities ,section #dca7;a7 ( su* ,act 

7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fbi;a7a77 is am5d$ by   
add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7#ac7          
,reasonable *ildhood indep5d5ce         
activities ,! t]m reasonable *ildhood   
indep5d5ce activities has ! mean+ giv5  
su* t]m 9 section #c ( ! ,*ild ,abuse   
,prev5tion & ,treatm5t ,act 7#db        
,u4,s4,c4 #eaja note74  4  7b7 ,/ephanie
 ,tubbs ,jones ,*ild ,welf>e ,s]vices   
,program  7#a7 ,/ate plan requirem5t    
,section #dbb7;b7 ( su* ,act 7#db       
,u4,s4,c4 #fbb7;b77 is am5d$-- 7,a7 9   
p>agraph 7#ah71 by /rik+ & aft] !       
semicolon2  7,b7 9 p>agraph 7#ai71 by   
/rik+ ! p]iod & ins]t+ 2 &2 &  7,c7 by  
add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7#bj7 describe 
! ,/ate policies 9 place1 includ+ tra9+ 
= /aff ( ! ,/ate ag5cy or local ag5cy   
responsible = furni%+ *ild welf>e       
s]vices1 to address *ild welf>e reports 
& inve/igations conc]n+ ! liv+          
arrangem5ts or ne$s ( a *ild1 ) ! goal (
 prev5t+ unnecess>y & traumatic         
inve/igations ( p>5ts or ! sep>ation ( a
 *ild f a p>5t or cu/odian ( ! *ild     

solely due to ! *ild p>ticipat+ 9       
reasonable *ildhood indep5d5ce          
activities4  4  7#b7 ,def9ition (       
reasonable *ildhood indep5d5ce          
activities ,section #dbb7;c7 ( su* ,act 
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fbb7;c77 is am5d$ by    
r$esignat+ p>agraph 7#b7 z p>agraph 7#c7
 & ins]t+ aft] p>agraph 7#a7 ! foll[+3  
7#b7 ,reasonable *ildhood indep5d5ce    
activities ,! t]m reasonable *ildhood   
indep5d5ce activities has ! mean+ giv5  
su* t]m 9 section #c ( ! ,*ild ,abuse   
,prev5tion & ,treatm5t ,act 7#db        
,u4,s4,c4 #eaja note74  4  #f4 ,am5dm5ts
 to ! ,*ild ,abuse ,prev5tion &         
,treatm5t ,act  7a7 ,def9itions ,section
 #c ( ! ,*ild ,abuse ,prev5tion &       
,treatm5t ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaja     
note7 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9 p>agraph 7#b71  
by ins]t+ 1 & does n include a decision 
by a p>5t or c>etak] to all[ a *ild to  
p>ticipate 9 reasonable *ildhood        
indep5d5ce activities1 unless su* a     
decision 0 ! result ( an unreasonable   
disreg>d ( a =eseeable risk ( s]i\s h>m 

aft] pres5ts an imm95t risk ( s]i\s h>m2
  7#b7 by r$esignat+ p>agraphs 7#f7     
?r\gh 7#h7 z p>agraphs 7#g7 ?r\gh 7#i71 
respectively2 &  7#c7 by ins]t+ aft]    
p>agraph 7#e7 ! foll[+ new p>agraph3    
7#f7 ,reasonable *ildhood indep5d5ce    
activities ,! t]m reasonable *ildhood   
indep5d5ce activities-- 7,a7 means      
activities t-- 7i7 are c>ri$ out by a   
*ild1 alone or ) o!r *ildr5 & )\t direct
 sup]vision by an adult or old] *ild2 & 
7ii7 a p>5t or c>egiv] reasonably       
believes are physically & developm5tally
 appropriate = ! *ild )\t su*           
sup]vision2 &  7,b7 includes-- 7i7 play+
 indoors or outdoors2  7ii7 tak+ public 
transportation2  7iii7 walk+ or bicycl+ 
to or f s*ool or local comm]cial or     
recreational facilities2  7iv7 runn+    
err&s2  7v7 rema9+ at home or at any o!r
 safe & reasonable location = a         
reasonable p]iod ( "t2  7vi7 babysitt+  
y\ng] *ildr52 &  7vii7 rema9+ 9 a       
vehicle = a reasonable p]iod ( "t & 9   
reasonable conditions :ile a p>5t or    

c>egiv] is tempor>ily away f ! vehicle1 
includ+ to run an err& or to accompany  
ano!r *ild to s*ool or dayc>e drop-(f or
 pick-up4  4  7b7 ,grants to ,/ates =   
*ild abuse or neglect prev5tion &       
treatm5t programs ,section #ajf7;a7 ( ! 
,*ild ,abuse ,prev5tion & ,treatm5t ,act
 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eajf;a7a77 is am5d$--  
7#a7 9 p>agraph 7#d71 by /rik+ response2
 & ins]t+ response1 & tools & protocols 
t ensure t risk & safety assessm5ts     
acc\nt = ! importance ( reasonable      
*ildhood indep5d5ce activities to a     
*ild's heal?y developm5t1 & make cle> t 
all[+ a *ild to p>ticipate 9 reasonable 
*ildhood indep5d5ce activities is n *ild
 abuse or neglect & t all[+ su*         
p>ticipation does n ju/ify *ild welf>e  
sy/em int]v5tion1 includ+ sep>ation (   
any *ild f ! *ild's p>5t or gu>dian22   
7#b7 9 p>agraph 7#h71 by /rik+ neglect2 
& ins]t+ neglect1 includ+ /rategies &   
tra9+ protocols t ensure su* individuals
 und]/& ! importance ( reasonable       
*ildhood indep5d5ce activities to a     

*ild's heal?y developm5t1 & und]/& t    
all[+ a *ild to p>ticipate 9 reasonable 
*ildhood indep5d5ce activities is n *ild
 abuse or neglect & t all[+ su*         
p>ticipation does n ju/ify *ild welf>e  
sy/em int]v5tion1 includ+ sep>ation (   
any *ild f ! *ild's p>5t or gu>dian22 & 
7#c7 9 p>agraph 7#aj71 by /rik+         
response2 & ins]t+ response1 & help+ !  
public bett] und]/& t a p>5t or gu>dian 
all[+ a *ild to p>ticipate 9 reasonable 
*ildhood indep5d5ce activities is n *ild
 abuse or neglect & t all[+ su*         
p>ticipation does n ju/ify *ild welf>e  
sy/em int]v5tion1 includ+ sep>ation (   
any *ild f ! *ild's p>5t or gu>dian24   
7c7 ,eligibility requirem5ts ,section   
#ajf7;b77#b77;,b7 ( ! ,*ild ,abuse      
,prev5tion & ,treatm5t ,act 7#db        
,u4,s4,c4 #eajf;a7b77#b77;,b77 is       
am5d$-- 7#a7 9 clause 7xxiv71 by /rik+ &
 aft] ! semicolon2 &  7#b7 by add+ at ! 
end ! foll[+3  7xxvi7 assurances &      
protections to ensure t p>5ts & legal   
gu>dians may all[ a *ild to p>ticipate 9

 reasonable *ildhood indep5d5ce         
activities )\t fe> or ?reat ( crim9al or
 civil *>ges1 cu/ody assessm5ts or      
inve/igations1 m&at$ s]vices1 *ild abuse
 regi/ry1 or accusations ( *ild abuse or
 neglect solely because ! p>5t or legal 
gu>dian all[s _! *ild to p>ticipate 9   
reasonable *ildhood indep5d5ce          
activities2 &  7xxvii7 provisions &     
proc$ures = tra9+ *ild protective       
s]vices work]s1 casework]s1 & o!r       
employees or contractual ag5ts ( *ild   
welf>e ag5cies ab\t ! importance (      
reasonable *ildhood indep5d5ce          
activities to a *ild's heal?y           
developm5t1 & to und]/& t a p>5t or     
legal gu>dian all[+ a *ild to p>ticipate
 9 reasonable *ildhood indep5d5ce       
activities is n cause to suspect *ild   
abuse or neglect & t su* activities d n 
ju/ify ! sep>ation ( any *ild f ! *ild's
 p>5t or legal gu>dian2  4  #g4         
,effective date  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,!        
am5dm5ts made by ?is ,act %all take     
effect on ! #a/ day ( ! #a/ fiscal ye>  

beg9n+ on or aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( 
?is ,act1 & %all apply to paym5ts1      
grants1 & ,f$]al funds = cal5d> qu>t]s  
beg9n+ on or aft] su* date4  7b7 ,delay 
p]mitt$ if ,/ate legislation or policy  
*anges are requir$ ,if ! ,secret>y (    
,heal? & ,human ,s]vices det]m9es t     
,/ate legislation 7o!r ?an legislation  
appropriat+ funds7 is requir$ 9 ord] =  
any ,/ate plan approv$ "u subp>t #b ( "p
 ,b ( title ,,iv ( ! ,social ,security  
,act to meet ! additional requirem5ts   
impos$ by ! am5dm5ts made by ?is ,act1 !
 plan %all n be reg>d$ z fail+ to meet  
any ( ! additional requirem5ts be=e !   
#a/ day ( ! #a/ cal5d> qu>t] beg9n+ aft]
 ! #a/ regul> session ( ! ,/ate         
legislature t beg9s aft] ! date ( !     
enactm5t ( ?is ,act4 ,= purposes ( !    
prec$+ s5t5ce1 if ! ,/ate has a #b-ye>  
legislative session1 ea* ye> ( ! session
 is deem$ to be a sep>ate regul> session
 ( ! ,/ate legislature4 ,an ext5sion ( a
 det]m9ation t ! plan has fail$ to meet 
any ( ! additional requirem5ts %all be  

grant$ if ! ,/ate demon/rates its good  
fai? ef=ts to enact ,/ate legislation1  
or submits a plan to enact rule & policy
 *anges z are )9 its lawful discretion s
 z to support reasonable *ildhood       
indep5d5ce activities1 & demon/rates t  
p>5ts & legal gu>dians all[+ a *ild to  
p>ticipate 9 reasonable *ildhood        
indep5d5ce activities are exclud$ "u    
,/ate policy & practices f ! ?reat (    
crim9al or civil *>ges1 cu/ody          
assessm5ts or inve/igations1 m&at$      
s]vices1 *ild abuse regi/ry1 or         
accusations ( *ild abuse or neglect4