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Senate bill would waive fees for IDs, transcripts for former foster youth ages 18–21
Summary
Senator Laura Smith introduced Senate Bill 412 to waive fees for birth certificates, driver's licenses and other documents for former foster youth ages 18–21. DPHHS Division of Child and Family Services supported the bill and said about 70 youth aged out of foster care last year; no committee vote was taken at the hearing.
Senator Laura Smith opened a hearing on Senate Bill 412, a bill to waive application and issuance fees for certain government documents (for example, birth certificates, identification cards and school transcripts) for former foster youth aged 18 to 21.
Smith said the bill was informed by her experience at the Department of Public Health and Human Services and consultations with stakeholders; she said the bill uses Chafee funds where available to reimburse agencies. Nikki Grossberg, division administrator for Child and Family Services, testified in support and told the committee that about 70 children aged out of foster care last year in Montana. Grossberg said the measure reduces barriers for those young adults by waiving or reimbursing costs for documents used in employment, education and benefits access.
No opponents appeared in the hearing and there was no committee vote recorded. The department indicated support and offered to work with agencies to implement fee waivers and reimbursements for covered documents.
Ending: The hearing closed; the committee did not take action at this meeting.
