Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-102
§673a Interstate Compacts
Title 42 › CHAPTER 7 — SOCIAL SECURITY › SUBCHAPTER IV — GRANTS TO STATES FOR AID AND SERVICES TO NEEDY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AND FOR CHILD-WELFARE SERVICES › Part E — Federal Payments for Foster Care, Prevention, and Permanency › § 673a
Summary
The Secretary of Health and Human Services must help states make interstate compacts approved by Congress to protect adopted children who have state adoption-assistance when they and their adoptive parents move to another state, with protections the Secretary approves.
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
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102