House Human Services committee reviews amendment to allow unaccompanied homeless youth to access services without parental consent

The House Human Services Committee reviewed an amendment to a bill intended to enable unaccompanied homeless youth to access certain services without parental consent, focusing on technical fixes, clarified intent, and revised data reporting for court‑ordered transports.

Katie McLean, legislative counsel, said the amendment replaces and reorders portions of the bill and adds a new legislative-intent subsection describing the population the provision is meant to protect — youth left homeless by ‘‘severe family dysfunction, such as abuse, neglect, child abandonment, or lack of financial support,’’ with the intent that an unaccompanied youth receive resources peers obtain with parental consent. McLean also highlighted posting requirements: the department must publish the certification form and eligibility information on its website, including who may complete the form.

A committee lawmaker said the amendment…