H.R. 8245: Generate Recordings of All Child protective Interviews Everywhere Act

This bill, known as the Generate Recordings of All Child Protective Interviews Everywhere Act or the GRACIE Act of 2026, aims to support state efforts in recording child welfare interviews conducted by state agencies. Here are the key components of the bill:

Grants for Recording Child Welfare Interviews

The bill allows the Associate Commissioner of the Children’s Bureau of the Office of Administration for Children and Families, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, to provide grants to states. These grants will assist state agencies responsible for child welfare in:

• Recording all child welfare interviews.
• Retaining these recordings for a minimum of five years.

Application Process

To receive grants, states must submit an application including:

• The state’s leading agency for the grant program and its current policies on recording child welfare interviews.
• The challenges the state faces in monitoring the requirements for recording and retaining these interviews.
• A plan detailing how the state will utilize the grant funds.

Use of Funds

Funds from the grants are to be used specifically for:

• Conducting and retaining recordings of child welfare interviews.
• Recording initial interviews during family assessments when feasible.

Recording Requirements

States receiving grants must have policies requiring:

• All child welfare interviews to be recorded using electronic audio, video, or other acceptable methods.
• Recordings to be stored securely for at least five years.

Retention and Access Conditions

The bill specifies conditions for the retention and access to the recordings:

• Recordings can only be released to appropriate government agencies or to caregivers/guardians connected to judicial proceedings, unless the court orders otherwise.
• Violations of the release limitations will result in penalties.
• Retention systems must securely manage recordings with access controls.

Accountability Measures

States must maintain records for audit purposes. The Associate Commissioner will have access to necessary documents for auditing grant usage.

Definitions

The bill provides definitions for key terms, including:

• **Associate Commissioner**: The official within the Children’s Bureau responsible for overseeing the grant program.
• **Child welfare interview**: A documented interview concerning allegations of child abuse, neglect, or other related issues.
• **State**: Includes all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories.

Funding Provisions

For fiscal years 2026 to 2031, up to $30 million will be allocated from existing appropriations to implement the grant program outlined in this bill.

Relevant Companies

None found.