Senate committee advances bill to extend foster-care services to age 21 in Nevada

The Nevada Senate Finance Committee on May 22 heard an overview of Senate Bill 504, which would put into state law an "extended young adult support services" program (extended foster care) and make participation the default for youth who turn 18, extending certain supports and court oversight through age 21.

The bill matters because it enables Nevada to claim federal Title IV‑E funding for extended foster care and to codify program details for housing, caseworker contact and judicial oversight that supporters said are important for youth transitioning to adulthood.

Marla McDade Williams, administrator of the Division of Child and Family Services in the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, told the committee the program was developed over two years with local child welfare staff and that funding for the program has already been appropriated in the division’s budget. "The federal legislation known as fostering connections established the extended foster care program and it has been available as an option since 02/2008," McDade Williams said. She summarized bill changes that include a statutory definition of "young adult" (to preserve Title IV‑E eligibility), requirements that youth remain under court oversight, attorney counseling on program participation and written transition plans prepared jointly with the young adult.

A provision discussed would extend kinship guardianship assistance and adoption subsidies to age 21 for youth who exited foster care at age 16 or later. Committee members also asked about contact requirements between caseworkers and young adults; McDade Williams said the federal code allows flexibility and does not mandate in‑person contact in every instance, noting video conferencing is presently permitted.

Joanna Jacob, representing Clark County, and Cadence Matievich from Washoe County registered support for the bill and thanked the Division of Child and Family Services for the multiyear work to design the program.

At work session later in the evening committee staff noted there was one public comment in support, no opposition or neutral comments, and no amendments were offered. The committee took a motion to "do pass" the measure; the motion was moved by Senator Wynne and seconded by Senator Cannizzaro and the motion carried.

The bill includes an effective date of July 1, 2025. The committee record states the draft was reviewed by the federal Children’s Bureau to ensure compliance with federal law, a step the administrator confirmed during questioning.