SB 12 Summary

• Revises eligibility for nonminor dependents (youth ages 18-21) in foster care by removing one category and clarifying another related to youth adjudged as delinquent wards who were in secure confinement at age 18.

• Allows nonminor former dependents and delinquent wards meeting specified criteria to petition the court to resume or assume dependency and transition jurisdiction to continue receiving foster care benefits up to age 21.

• Extends foster care benefits eligibility to nonminor dependents who satisfy at least one of five conditions: completing secondary education, enrolled in postsecondary/vocational education, participating in employment-promoting activities, employed at least 80 hours per month, or incapable of these activities due to medical condition.

• Requires county child welfare and probation departments to prepare transitional independent living case plans for nonminor dependents and establish procedures for voluntary reentry agreements allowing youth to re-enter foster care after jurisdiction has been terminated.

• Imposes state-mandated local program costs on counties to administer expanded foster care programs for eligible nonminor dependents, with reimbursement provided under existing state mandate procedures.