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

House Bill 245, which would extend access to state foster-care supports from age 21 to 23, was sent to the floor with a "do pass" recommendation after testimony and questions from a House committee.

Sponsors and witnesses told the committee that the extra two years would help youth complete college or vocational training and provide a more gradual transition to independence. Representative Jason Monks, sponsor pro tempore, said foster youth often "got a rough go" and that raising the age to 23 "is what it takes to get through college," because it extends a support structure many lack.

The bill's primary sponsor, Representative Alana Rubell of District 18, told the committee the program is small in scale but high in potential return. Rubell said the program would likely serve "about 40 participants" and cited research she said showed extended foster-care participation reduces homelessness by 30%, lowers unplanned pregnancy by 28%, reduces odds of arrest by 41% and increases the odds of completing at least a year of higher education "3 and a half times." She said roughly 157 people had taken advantage of the earlier extension from 18 to 21.

Department of Health and Welfare analyst Adam Jones told the committee the 40-person figure represents an upper estimate "if every single kid that's of the age of 21 to 23 in foster care went and accepted this program." Jones said intake is likely to be lower and noted a national downward trend in foster-care counts.

Two former foster youth testified in favor. Sarah Betweiser, identified as president of the board of Family Advocates and speaking from personal experience, urged support. Ivy Smith, a former foster youth who said she aged out in 2016, described being briefly barred from living in a college dorm because she was not yet 18 and said extended support changed her trajectory. Smith said she wrote the original policy proposal that helped create the current program and urged the committee to "help foster youth have a fighting chance."

Representative Levitt asked about long-term savings. Representative Rubell responded that extended care can reduce long-term costs associated with incarceration, homelessness and prolonged dependency on social programs and that those savings likely exceed the cost of providing two additional years of housing and support.

Representative Kaler voiced a fiscal objection and said the expansion represented "death by a thousand cuts" to the state budget; he announced his intent to vote no. Representative Dore Healy made the motion to send the bill to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. The committee recorded the motion as passing and the bill was transmitted to the full House with the committee recommendation. The transcript records at least one recorded opposing vote; the chair recorded his own vote as aye.

The bill's backers told the committee the proposal aligns with federal guidance that supports extending foster-care services to age 23. Supporters emphasized the measure is limited in scope and targeted at a high-risk population.

With the committee recommendation complete, the bill will next be scheduled for floor consideration under the House calendar process.