Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§673a Interstate compacts

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 7— - SOCIAL SECURITY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IV— - GRANTS TO STATES FOR AID AND SERVICES TO NEEDY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AND FOR CHILD-WELFARE SERVICES › Part Part E— - Federal Payments for Foster Care, Prevention, and Permanency › § 673a

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Health and Human Services must help states make interstate agreements (approved by Congress) so a child with an adoption assistance agreement under section 673 keeps fair, Secretary‑approved protections if they and their adoptive parent(s) move to another state.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §673a

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall take all possible steps to encourage and assist the various States to enter into interstate compacts (which are hereby approved by the Congress) under which the interests of any adopted child with respect to whom an adoption assistance agreement has been entered into by a State under section 673 of this title will be adequately protected, on a reasonable and equitable basis which is approved by the Secretary, if and when the child and his or her adoptive parent (or parents) move to another State.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980, and not as part of the Social Security Act which comprises this chapter.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

“Secretary of Health and Human Services” substituted in text for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare” pursuant to section 509(b) of Pub. L. 96–88, which is classified to section 3508(b) of Title 20, Education.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 673a

Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73