Senate Bill 424 Summary

• Extends foster care eligibility to age 21 for youth who are completing secondary education, enrolled in postsecondary or vocational education, participating in employment or career programs, employed at least 80 hours per month, or unable to work due to medical conditions or disabilities.

• Allows eligible youth ages 18-21 to receive foster care benefits while living in college dormitories or other semi-supervised housing with monthly oversight by social services directors.

• Extends adoption assistance payments until age 21 for individuals adopted after age 16 but before age 18.

• Authorizes the Social Services Commission to adopt rules implementing the foster care expansion and requires submission of a state plan amendment to draw down federal IV-E funding for the program.

• Appropriates $56,042 for fiscal year 2015-2016 to develop the expansion plan and $1,328,499 for fiscal year 2016-2017 to implement it, with implementation effective August 1, 2016.