
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC1397]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                       CHAPTER 7--SOCIAL SECURITY
 
        SUBCHAPTER XX--BLOCK GRANTS TO STATES FOR SOCIAL SERVICES
 
Sec. 1397. Purposes; authorization of appropriations

    For the purposes of consolidating Federal assistance to States for 
social services into a single grant, increasing State flexibility in 
using social service grants, and encouraging each State, as far as 
practicable under the conditions in that State, to furnish services 
directed at the goals of--
        (1) achieving or maintaining economic self-support to prevent, 
    reduce, or eliminate dependency;
        (2) achieving or maintaining self-sufficiency, including 
    reduction or prevention of dependency;
        (3) preventing or remedying neglect, abuse, or exploitation of 
    children and adults unable to protect their own interests, or 
    preserving, rehabilitating or reuniting families;
        (4) preventing or reducing inappropriate institutional care by 
    providing for community-based care, home-based care, or other forms 
    of less intensive care; and
        (5) securing referral or admission for institutional care when 
    other forms of care are not appropriate, or providing services to 
    individuals in institutions,

there are authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year such sums 
as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this subchapter.

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title XX, Sec. 2001, as added Pub. L. 97-35, 
title XXIII, Sec. 2352(a), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 867.)


                            Prior Provisions

    A prior section 1397, act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title XX, 
Sec. 2001, as added Jan. 4, 1975, Pub. L. 93-647, Sec. 2, 88 Stat. 2337; 
amended June 17, 1980, Pub. L. 96-272, title II, Sec. 207(b), 94 Stat. 
526, authorized appropriations to carry out former provisions of this 
subchapter, prior to the general revision of this subchapter by section 
2352(a) of Pub. L. 97-35.


                             Effective Date

    Section 2354 of Pub. L. 97-35 provided that: ``Except as otherwise 
explicitly provided, the provisions of this subtitle [subtitle C 
(Secs. 2351-2355) of title XXIII of Pub. L. 97-35, see Short Title of 
1981 Amendment note set out under section 1305 of this title] and the 
repeals and amendments made by this subtitle, shall become effective on 
October 1, 1981.''


       Study of State Social Service Programs; Report to Congress

    Section 2355 of Pub. L. 97-35 required Secretary of Health and Human 
Services to conduct a study to identify criteria and mechanisms which 
may be useful for States in assessing effectiveness and efficiency of 
State social service programs carried out with funds made available 
under this subchapter, such study to include consideration of Federal 
incentive payments as an option in rewarding States having high 
performance social service programs, and to report results of such study 
to Congress within one year after Aug. 13, 1981.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 1397a, 1397f of this title.
