Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act of 1980
Public Law 96-611 · H.R. 8406 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Dec 28, 1980 · Health
Sponsor: Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA-24)
Cosponsors (1): Rep. Tim Carter
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act of provide Medicare coverage for pneumococcal vaccine and its administration.
Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, prior to the beginning of a quarter, to estimate the amount to which a State is entitled under part E and then to pay to the State the amount so estimated.
Revises the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (part A of title IV) eligibility requirements for individuals (who are otherwise eligible) and are between the ages of 18 and 21 so as to restrict such payments to students regularly attending a school in grade twelve or below or regularly attending a course of vocational or technical training, other than a course provided by or through a college or university, designed to fit the individual for gainful employment.
Amends title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) of the Act to include within the resources of an SSI applicant for the purpose of determining resources any resource owned by the applicant within the preceding 24 months if the applicant gave away or sold the resource at less than fair market value for the purpose of establishing SSI eligibility.
Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Act to deny assistance, for specified periods, to an individual who would otherwise be eligible but for the fact that the individual disposed of resources for less than fair market value.
Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act of 1980 - Requires appropriate State authorities to give full faith and credit to a child custody determination by a court of another State which has jurisdiction and meets specified conditions. Authorizes a State court with jurisdiction to modify a custody determination of another State court which no longer has or has declined to exercise jurisdiction.
Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Act to direct the Secretary to enter into an agreement with any State able and willing to do so, under which the services of the Parent Locator Service shall be made available to the State for the purpose of determining the whereabouts of any absent parent or child when such information is to be used to locate the parent or child for the purpose of: (1) enforcing any State or Federal law with respect to the unlawful taking or restraint of a child; or (2) making or enforcing a child custody determination.
Directs the Attorney General to report to Congress concerning steps taken to apply to parental kidnapping Federal laws pertaining to leaving a jurisdiction to avoid prosecution or giving testimony.
Makes technical amendments to the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code.
Provides that certain auditing regulations pertaining to part D of title IV shall remain in effect until October 1, 1981.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 13 actions.
- Dec 28, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-611.
- Dec 18, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Dec 13, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- Dec 5, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Dec 2, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Ways and Means Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.