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Senate committee backs extending foster‑care support to age 23
Summary
The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted to send House Bill 245 to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation. The bill would extend voluntary foster‑care services from age 21 to 23; testimony highlighted reduced homelessness, lower arrest rates and increased postsecondary enrollment in states with similar extensions.
The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted to send House Bill 245 to the Senate floor with a due‑pass recommendation. The bill would allow young people to continue voluntary foster‑care services through age 23 instead of the current cutoff at 21.
Senator Carl Bjerke (R‑District 5) introduced the bill as a measure to strengthen outcomes for ‘‘emerging adults’’ who left foster care. "We're thinking about the return on investment," Bjerke said, citing research he said links extended foster care to lower rates of homelessness, crime and higher educational attainment. Bjerke also described statutory changes to streamline placement with relatives, quoting the bill language that would allow the department to expedite placement and grant limited waivers or separate licensing standards for relatives.
Monty Prow, deputy director for the Department of Health and Welfare’s support and child‑welfare division, told the committee the program provides each participant an independent living or transition plan and ongoing case‑management contact. "These kids...are learning how to adult," Prow said, listing supports that include case‑manager check‑ins, help with employment and education, and financial resources. Prow said that about half of participating youth live with foster families and the other half in independent living arrangements; he identified an independent‑living payment of $876 per month for youth living on their own and said foster payments continue to go to foster parents when youth remain in a foster home.
Multiple witnesses with lived experience urged support. Ivy Smith, who identified herself as a foster‑care alum and a representative of Idaho Voices for Children, testified that when she aged out she faced immediate barriers to college housing, insurance and transportation. Smith cited a national study by Chapin Hall showing extended care reduced homelessness by about 30 percent, lowered pregnancy and arrest rates and increased college persistence. "Please help Idaho's foster youth have a fighting chance," Smith said.
Other nonprofit and community witnesses — including Sarah Betweiser (Family Advocates), Shane Hansen (Freedom Youth Foundation) and Marissa Franklin — described programs that provide mentoring, employment pathways and direct material supports; they urged lawmakers to extend the voluntary program so youth have more time to stabilize after traumatic childhoods. Norm Baron, a former foster parent, also testified in favor.
Committee members discussed concerns and tradeoffs. Senator Shippy said he supported services but remained unconvinced that raising the age was the correct approach; he later said he would vote no on the floor. Senator Lenny and Senator Blaylock described arriving at a yes after hearing testimony. Senator Wintrow noted the department had answered detailed implementation questions; she supported sending the bill forward.
Procedure and vote: Senator Harris moved to send House Bill 245 to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation; Senator Wintrow seconded. Committee members voiced support and opposition during discussion. The motion carried; the committee advanced the bill to the Senate floor for further consideration.
What the bill would do: Testimony and the text cited in committee would (1) extend the voluntary foster‑care age limit from 21 to 23; (2) require participating youth to be part of an independent living/transition plan with case‑manager oversight; and (3) allow the Department of Health and Welfare to expedite placement with relatives and grant limited variances or separate standards for relative licensure under chapter 16, title 16, Idaho Code.
Why it matters: Witnesses and agency staff said two additional years of support can reduce immediate risks such as homelessness and arrest and increase chances of completing education or securing employment. Supporters framed the change as an investment with social and fiscal returns; some committee members asked for follow‑up data collection if the bill passes.
Provenance: Testimony from legislators, agency staff and multiple witnesses with lived experience is recorded in the transcript and cited below.
