Ill STAT. 2124 PUBLIC LAW 105-89 —NOV. 19, 1997 "(A) with respect to fiscal year 1998, the average number of foster child adoptions in the State in fiscal years 1995, 1996, and 1997; and "(B) with respect to any subsequent fiscal year, the number of foster child adoptions in the State in the fiscal year for which the number is the greatest in the period that begins with fiscal year 1997 and ends with the fiscal year preceding such subsequent fiscal year. "(4) BASE NUMBER OF SPECIAL NEEDS ADOPTIONS. —The term 'base number of special needs adoptions for a State' means— "(A) with respect to fiscal year 1998, the average number of special needs adoptions in the State in fiscal years 1995, 1996, and 1997; and "(B) with respect to any subsequent fiscal year, the number of special needs adoptions in the State in the fiscal year for which the number is the greatest in the period that begins with fiscal year 1997 and ends with the fiscal year preceding such subsequent fiscal year. "(h) LIMITATIONS ON AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— "(1) IN GENERAL.— For grants under subsection (a), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2003. "(2) AVAILABILITY. —Amounts appropriated under paragraph (1) are authorized to remain available until expended, but not after fiscal year 2003. " (i) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— "(1) IN GENERAL.— The Secretary may, directly or through grants or contracts, provide technical assistance to assist States and local communities to reach their targets for increased numbers of adoptions and, to the extent that adoption is not possible, alternative permanent placements, for children in foster care. "(2) DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTER OF THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The technical assistance provided under paragraph (1) may support the goal of encouraging more adoptions out of the foster care system, when adoptions promote the best interests of children, and may include the following: "(A) The development of best practice guidelines for expediting termination of parental rights. "(B) Models to encourage the use of concurrent planning. "(C) The development of specialized units and expertise in moving children toward adoption as a permanency goal. "(D) The development of risk assessment tools to facilitate early identification of the children who will be at risk of harm if returned home. "(E) Models to encourage the fast tracking of children who have not attained 1 year of age into pre-adoptive placements. "(F) Development of programs that place children into pre-adoptive families without waiting for termination of parental rights. "(3) TARGETING OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE COURTS.— Not less than 50 percent of any amount appropriated pursuant to paragraph (4) shall be used to provide technical assistance to the courts.
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