### Question
How is the "eligible State" defined?


### Answer
The term **eligible State** is defined in *42 U.S.C. § 603* as follows -

> a State that the Secretary determines meets the following requirements:


(aa) The State demonstrates that the number of out-of-wedlock births that occurred in the State during the most recent 2-year period for which such information is available decreased as compared to the number of such births that occurred during the previous 2-year period, and the magnitude of the decrease for the State for the period is not exceeded by the magnitude of the corresponding decrease for 5 or more other States for the period

#### Citation:
  - *42 U.S.C. § 603*
  - Heading: **CHAPTER 6-THE CHILDREN'S BUREAU > SUBCHAPTER IV-GRANTS TO STATES FOR AID AND SERVICES TO NEEDY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AND FOR CHILD-WELFARE SERVICES > Part A-Block Grants to States for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families**

