[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6699078,"mediaKeyId","2372064-f28927993550054438973d3eeaafbc23","parentId",2372064,"title","Committee advances bill to extend foster-care support from 21 to 23","audioSeconds",1471,"startMs",74000,"endMs",1545000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2372064-f28927993550054438973d3eeaafbc23&start=74&end=1545","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2372064-f28927993550054438973d3eeaafbc23/thumbnail_74000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6699078/Committee-advances-bill-to-extend-foster-care-support-from-21-to-23","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6699078-d4ce5f9b74b54a5bd2badf1b74ccdc5d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775413680&Signature=d7h5blnCmkJTdU5P0Pyg9TiVtu32dVR5f69E~zSnOp28p8JzvMiuHc1JTEDktmPlFQqkAiVqrDzswFr6KxnsWUMJWzYjIuyqUYaVZiMiiktzFVpIRk1Ocv4c-x-6vMfTl2OHvC40zuy-BV-vTVWguGJyFkhKIpSxXvEjNKVuIfmRGk7Wbsl1~SQ~OLUCgz1h1~E5Esjm-kMz~KpcpqWdetPVM-XDtuVvGll8ktSz4uvHNQknv7~WfWg~pzP97lQzlnetrpsqVo7HtA5lAZNgA9v0V~l5031dh0LiOky9XRhImMHiRO1MUsbxHS24oBhyfkZQx03EACyQbe5L5GZ1zQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Idaho Legislature","date","2025-02-20T00:00:00Z","article","A legislative committee voted to send House Bill 245 to the floor with a “do pass” recommendation after sponsors and witnesses urged extending access to foster-care supports from age 21 to 23.

House Bill 245, sponsored in committee by Representative Jason Monks (R., District 22) and Representative Alana Rubell (D., District 18), would allow eligible youth to remain in extended foster-care programs through their 23rd birthday. Representative Dore Healy (R., District 15) moved to send the bill to the full chamber with a due-pass recommendation; the motion passed on a voice vote with the chair recorded as voting yes and at least one member, Representative Kaler, opposing the measure.

Supporters described the proposal as a narrow, targeted extension meant to give older foster youth time to complete college, vocational training or other programs. Representative Rubell told the committee the program is expected to be small — “about 40 participants” — and cited research the sponsors said shows extended foster-care participation reduces the risk of homelessness by about 30 percent, reduces unplanned pregnancy by about 28 percent, cuts odds of arrest by about 41 percent and increases the likelihood of completing at least one year of higher education by roughly 3.5 times.

Department of Health and Welfare staff member Adam Jones told the committee the 40-person figure represents an upper-bound estimate if every eligible youth aged 21–23 opted into the program; he said actual participation would likely be lower and noted a long-term national trend of declining foster-care populations. Committee testimony also noted that 157 youth had taken advantage of the earlier extension from 18 to 21 since that change was enacted.

Two witnesses with lived experience described barriers that the bill aims to address. Sarah Betweiser, who identified herself as a former foster youth and as president of the board of the nonprofit Family Advocates, said the extension would “ensure this transformative period is met with an appropriate level of support, resources, accountability and opportunity.” Ivy Smith, who testified she aged out of Idaho’s foster system in 2016, recounted being denied permission to live in a college dorm because she was still 17 and said advocates had to appear in court to preserve her housing and education.

Committee members asked about costs and program take-up. Representative Levitt asked whether the extension would produce long-term savings by reducing incarceration, homelessness and reliance on social services; Representative Rubell and witnesses answered that they expect savings over time but deferred detailed budget estimates to the Department of Health and Welfare. When asked whether a higher participation level (for example, 80 instead of 40) would double costs, department staff said costs would increase proportionally but that current estimates were based on available program data.

Representative Kaler opposed the bill on fiscal grounds, describing aggregate program additions as “death by a thousand cuts” to the state budget; he said he would vote no. Representative Healy, who made the motion to advance the bill, and other proponents described the measure as focused on a high-risk population and part of efforts to support vulnerable youth.

The committee’s action was procedural: the bill was forwarded to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. No final statutory text or funding appropriation was adopted by the committee; floor consideration and any subsequent amendment or appropriation will determine the bill’s final content and fiscal effects.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Health & Welfare Committee February 20 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A legislative committee voted to send House Bill 245 to the floor with a “do pass” recommendation after sponsors, former foster youth and health department staff described expected benefits and small projected enrollment.","taxTitle","taxId",0,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},6699072,"Committee introduces several health-and-welfare measures; sends House Bill 220 to floor",677,1559000,2236000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2372064-f28927993550054438973d3eeaafbc23&start=1559&end=2236","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2372064-f28927993550054438973d3eeaafbc23/thumbnail_1559000.jpg","/articles/6699072/Committee-introduces-several-health-and-welfare-measures-sends-House-Bill-220-to-floor","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6699072-f1f2c3f3f36be559638856df93a8bf6b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775413680&Signature=XHQUGdP7QlvQW31Xt13Yho6FNjw0ZdNIfnG3YUZ49uM7qunRFaYVvy5ad-4rdTQFgHm25fLfzrRV4VDw~1mNngD4889M-0E~xMev48AkEutoYjBRtl4YB8c0Ls12sO3AYq9z-CfIB~xdohDX29pAPmnuJUqKTldl2b76UrF33iv7eLSDSQHylLDKQDc2trddWpgNlAiEZmX5ggxx6K6Eexk~MM4H9E-dpKDe4~WmKjbJ2Q-lXXGTrvzZ4mcs-tGUxmMrzHs3hegjbCGQMvdBJTkXeSfLlY7hLGTPtWg4WjRK-MzRfxiK2YDEPek~xefX8HtCTgjcBuwAx52kfbkarQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A legislative committee introduced five review-stage proposals and voted to send House Bill 220 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation.

The committee introduced the following RS (review-stage) proposals: RS32350, which would add a pharmacy technician seat and an additional pharmacist to maintain an odd-numbered pharmacy board; RS32382, a measure to allow electronic monitoring in long-term care facilities (commonly described in testimony as “Esther’s Law”); RS32401, which would permit medical assistants to work under the supervision of appropriately trained nurses; RS32425, which codifies full practice autonomy for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs); and RS32247C1, which consolidates existing immunization rules into statute without creating new vaccination requirements.

Committee members discussed RS32382 briefly; Representative Healy said the proposal came from constituents and that 10 other states have similar statutes. Representative Kaler asked about prevalence of elder abuse statistics; Healy said she was obtaining Idaho-specific numbers from the relevant department.

Representative Marco Erickson presented House Bill 220, which the committee forwarded to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. HB220 would simplify the fee-determination process for some adult behavioral-health services the Department of Health and Welfare contracts out (the transcript names Magellan as the contract provider). It removes a sliding-scale fee mechanism and moves several administrative rules into a clearer statutory framework. The sponsor said the change is permissive and would not restrict services for patients unable to pay; proponents said the changes respond to contract and program updates.

Each RS proposal was introduced on a motion and passed introduction by voice vote. The committee also introduced RS32350 during the meeting and approved it for introduction. No formal appropriations or final statutory language were enacted by the committee; introduced RS bills will proceed through the legislative process for further consideration.

","The committee introduced five statutory review (RS) proposals and voted to send House Bill 220 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; the measures introduced cover pharmacy board membership, electronic monitoring in long-term care, medical-assistant supervision, CRNA practice autonomy and consolidation of immunization rules.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee advances bill to extend foster-care support from 21 to 23

Committee introduces several health-and-welfare measures; sends House Bill 220 to floor