Committee advances five bills to calendar and rules, including foster care age increase

The Finance, Ways and Means Committee on March 5 advanced five separate measures to the calendar and rules committee, voting to send each bill forward after brief descriptions and limited floor discussion.

House Bill 103, sponsored by Chairlady Littleton, passed unanimously and would expand the state's extension of foster care program. Littleton said the bill raises the eligibility age from under 21 to under 23, makes young people who achieved permanency between ages 16 and 18 eligible, removes fees for driver's license permits or photo identification for participating youth, and establishes a permanent foster care youth outreach liaison program. The clerk recorded the vote as 21 ayes, 0 nos; the motion passed and HB 103 moves to calendar and rules.

House Joint Resolution 17, sponsored by Representative Kalman, also moved forward. Kalman described…