Senate committee advances bill to extend foster care eligibility from 21 to 23 after testimony from alumni and advocates

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted to send House Bill 245 to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation after more than an hour of testimony from former foster youth, foster parents and child‑welfare advocates.

Senator Carl Bjerke, sponsor and presenting senator for legislative district 5, said the bill would extend voluntary foster care from age 21 to 23 and streamline relative foster‑care licensing. “This bill basically takes in our foster care program, we currently have an age out date of 21 years of age, and that is going to be extended to 23 with this,” Bjerke said, arguing the change advances a “return on investment” by reducing later costs associated with homelessness and incarceration.

Monty Prow, deputy director for child welfare at the Department of Health and…