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Proposed Rule

Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System

A Proposed Rule by the Children and Families Administration on 08/12/2026

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Published Document: 2026-16414 (91 FR 52038)

This document has been published in the Federal Register. Use the PDF linked in the document sidebar for the official electronic format.

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Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
  1. 45 CFR Part 1356
  2. RIN 0970-AC23

AGENCY:

Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION:

Proposed rule; withdrawal.

SUMMARY:

This document withdraws a proposed rule that was published in the ( printed page 52039) Federal Register on January 11, 2008. The proposed rule would have amended the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) regulations at 45 CFR 1355.40 and the appendices to Part 1355 to modify the requirements for States to collect and report data to ACF on children in out-of-home care and in subsidized adoption or guardianship arrangements with the State. This document also withdraws the provision of the 2008 proposed rule that implemented the AFCARS penalty requirements of the Adoption Promotion Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-145).

DATES:

The proposed rule published January 11, 2008 (73 FR 2082) is withdrawn effective August 12, 2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Adam N. Jones, Deputy Chief of Staff, Immediate Office of the Assistant Secretary, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC, 202-417-0115, or .

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

ACF published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) related to AFCARS in the Federal Register on January 11, 2008. The proposed rule would have amended the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) regulations at 45 CFR 1355.40 and the appendices to Part 1355 to modify the requirements for States to collect and report data to ACF on children in out-of-home care and in subsidized adoption or guardianship arrangements with the State. The 2008 proposed rule would also have implemented the AFCARS penalty requirements of the Adoption Promotion Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-145).

ACF does not intend to publish a final rule following the publication of this NPRM on January 11, 2008. This decision was made due to the fact that the NPRM was published nearly 20 years ago by a prior Administration, and its continued existence on the Federal Register serves to only confuse the public. There have been multiple Administrations spanning this timeframe, with none seeking to finalize this proposed rulemaking. This withdrawal represents good governance and will ease the understandability of current Administration priorities for the public.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.,

Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.

[FR Doc. 2026-16414 Filed 8-11-26; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4184-01-P

Published Document: 2026-16414 (91 FR 52038)