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H.R. 1389 116th Congress House

Safe Home Act of 2019

Official title: To amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to include an act of unregulated custody transfer in the definition of child abuse and neglect, and for other purposes.

Introduced: August 16, 2019 See on congress.gov
Families Adoption and foster careChild safety and welfareCongressional oversightDomestic violence and child abuse
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Family relationshipsGovernment information and archivesSeparation, divorce, custody, support
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 27, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Feb 27, 2019
Introduced in House
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 Latest action February 27, 2019

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Safe Home Act of 2019

This bill makes unregulated custody transfers a form of child abuse and neglect under federal child-welfare law. Specifically, an unregulated custody transfer occurs when a child is placed with a non-relative or otherwise unfamiliar adult, with the intention of severing the parental or guardian relationship with the child, without reasonably ensuring the child's safety, and without legally transferring parental or guardian rights.

The bill also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to (1) report on the causes, effects, and prevalence of unregulated custody transfers; (2) develop policy recommendations for preventing such transfers; and (3) issue guidance to the states.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 2480 Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
  • S 1446 Safe Home Act of 2019
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Republican 2
R
Fitzpatrick, Brian K.
Pennsylvania · Aug 16, 2019
 R
Bacon, Don
Nebraska · Feb 27, 2019
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1389: Safe Home Act of 2019. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-1389/
MLA
"H.R. 1389: Safe Home Act of 2019." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-1389/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1389, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-1389/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1389: Safe Home Act of 2019](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-1389/)
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