OH HB50

Extends federal Title IV-E foster care and adoption assistance payments eligibility from age 18 to age 21 for youth who meet employment, education, or medical criteria and sign a voluntary participation agreement.

Requires probate courts to provide guardians with the Ohio Guardianship Guide prepared by the attorney general or Ohio judicial conference, upon appointment or at first filing of guardian accounts/reports.

Allows youth ages 18-21 to receive foster care payments directly or have payments made on their behalf without court approval through voluntary participation agreements, with court approval required for extensions beyond 180 days.

Raises the age for mandatory independent living services from 16 to 14 years old for children in foster care or planned permanent living arrangements.

Requires the Department of Job and Family Services to submit amendments to the state plan within nine months to implement federal 42 U.S.C. 675(8) provisions and adopt rules for the expanded foster care and adoption assistance programs.