Senate panel advances bill to extend foster-care support to age 23 after survivors and officials testify

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee advanced House Bill 245 to the Senate floor with a "do pass" recommendation after multiple foster-care alumni, foster parents and Department of Health and Welfare officials described the program as a low-cost intervention that can reduce homelessness, arrests and early pregnancy among youth who age out of care.

Sen. Carl Bjerke, who presented the measure, said the bill would extend the optional age at which young people may remain in foster-care services from 21 to 23 and "streamlines ability for kindred care." Reading language from the bill, Bjerke told the committee: "Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections 1 of this section, the department may expedite placement with a relative, issue a foster care license, and grant a limited variance or waiver of a licensing standard requirement, or establish separate…