42 USC § 628b - National random sample study of child welfare

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s628b"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 628b - National random sample study of child welfare"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "628b"
section_name: "National random sample study of child welfare"
chapter_number: 7
chapter_name: "SOCIAL SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "IV"
subchapter_name: "GRANTS TO STATES FOR AID AND SERVICES TO NEEDY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AND FOR CHILD-WELFARE SERVICES"
part_number: "B"
part_name: "Child and Family Services"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title IV, § 429, formerly § 429A, as added Pub. L. 104–193, title V, § 503, Aug. 22, 1996, 110 Stat. 2277; amended Pub. L. 105–33, title V, §§ 5591(a), 5592(a)(1)(C), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 643, 644; renumbered § 429, Pub. L. 109–288, § 6(f)(3), Sept. 28, 2006, 120 Stat. 1247.)"
---


# § 628b. National random sample study of child welfare

**(a)** **In general** The Secretary shall conduct (directly, or by grant, contract, or interagency agreement) a national study based on random samples of children who are at risk of child abuse or neglect, or are determined by States to have been abused or neglected.

**(b)** **Requirements** The study required by subsection (a) shall—

**(1)** have a longitudinal component; and

**(2)** yield data reliable at the State level for as many States as the Secretary determines is feasible.

**(c)** **Preferred contents** In conducting the study required by subsection (a), the Secretary should—

**(1)** carefully consider selecting the sample from cases of confirmed abuse or neglect; and

**(2)** follow each case for several years while obtaining information on, among other things—

**(A)** the type of abuse or neglect involved;

**(B)** the frequency of contact with State or local agencies;

**(C)** whether the child involved has been separated from the family, and, if so, under what circumstances;

**(D)** the number, type, and characteristics of out-of-home placements of the child; and

**(E)** the average duration of each placement.

**(d)** **Reports**

**(1)** **In general** From time to time, the Secretary shall prepare reports summarizing the results of the study required by subsection (a).

**(2)** **Availability** The Secretary shall make available to the public any report prepared under paragraph (1), in writing or in the form of an electronic data tape.

**(3)** **Authority to charge fee** The Secretary may charge and collect a fee for the furnishing of reports under paragraph (2).

**(e)** **Appropriation** Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary for each of fiscal years 1996 through 2002 $6,000,000 to carry out this section.

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**Source Credit**: (Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title IV, § 429, formerly § 429A, as added Pub. L. 104–193, title V, § 503, Aug. 22, 1996, 110 Stat. 2277; amended Pub. L. 105–33, title V, §§ 5591(a), 5592(a)(1)(C), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 643, 644; renumbered § 429, Pub. L. 109–288, § 6(f)(3), Sept. 28, 2006, 120 Stat. 1247.)

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 429 of act , was renumbered section 426(c) and is classified to .

### Amendments

1997—, transferred section in original to end of this subpart.

Subsec. (a). , inserted “(directly, or by grant, contract, or interagency agreement)” after “conduct”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1997 Amendment

Amendment by  effective as if included in the enactment of title V of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, , see , set out as a note under .