42 USC § 678 - Rule of construction

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s678"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 678 - Rule of construction"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "678"
section_name: "Rule of construction"
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: "E"
part_name: "Federal Payments for Foster Care, Prevention, and Permanency"
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, § 478, as added Pub. L. 105–89, title I, § 101(d), Nov. 19, 1997, 111 Stat. 2117.)"
---


# § 678. Rule of construction

section 671(a)(15)(D) of this title

Nothing in this part shall be construed as precluding State courts from exercising their discretion to protect the health and safety of children in individual cases, including cases other than those described in .

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**Source Credit**: (Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title IV, § 478, as added Pub. L. 105–89, title I, § 101(d), Nov. 19, 1997, 111 Stat. 2117.)

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 678, , as added , , , excluded from AFDC unit child for whom foster care maintenance payments are made, prior to repeal by , (c), , , applicable with respect to benefits for months beginning on or after the first day of the sixth calendar month following November 1990.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective , except as otherwise provided, with delay permitted if State legislation is required, see , set out as an Effective Date of 1997 Amendments note under .