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Senate committee backs extending voluntary foster‑care eligibility to age 23, citing evidence of reduced homelessness and arrests
Summary
House Bill 2 45, which would extend voluntary foster care from age 21 to 23 and ease placement with relatives, was sent to the Senate floor with a due‑pass recommendation after testimony from foster youth, providers and department staff about benefits, program details and supporting research.
The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted to send House Bill 2 45 to the Senate floor with a due‑pass recommendation after hours of testimony from former foster youth, providers and Department of Health and Welfare staff supporting a voluntary extension of foster care eligibility from age 21 to 23.
Carl Bjerke, Senator from legislative district 5, presented the bill and said it “streamlines ability for kindred care” and would allow the department to expedite placement with relatives, issue foster licenses and grant limited variances for relative caregivers under Chapter 16 of the Idaho Code. Bjerke described the measure as intended to give “a longer runway” to emerging adults who need more time to complete education, obtain employment and build life skills.
Monty Pro, deputy director at the Department of Health and Welfare (support and child welfare), described program…
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