Skip to main content
HR 1247 117th Congress House

Safe Home Act of 2021

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: March 2, 2021 See on congress.gov
Families Adoption and foster careChild safety and welfareCongressional oversightDomestic violence and child abuse
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Family relationshipsGovernment information and archivesSeparation, divorce, custody, support
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) 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 23, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Feb 23, 2021
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action February 23, 2021

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Safe Home Act of 2021

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 485 Related bill Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
  • S 397 Identical bill Safe Home Act of 2021
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Republican 2
Bass, Karen
· Mar 2, 2021
 R
Fitzpatrick, Brian K.
Pennsylvania · Mar 2, 2021
 R
Bacon, Don
Nebraska · Feb 23, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1247: Safe Home Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1247/
MLA
"H.R. 1247: Safe Home Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1247/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1247, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1247/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1247: Safe Home Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1247/)
Report a problem