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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Hardin

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1-24-06

HB

SHORT TITLE 18-21 Year-Old Foster Child Mentoring Program

SB 53

ANALYST Lucero

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

$0.00

$350.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates,Relates to HB0315,Conflicts with, Companion to

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

SUMMARY

Senate Bill 53 appropriates $350.0 from the GENERAL FUND for expenditure in 2007 to Chil-

dren, Youth and Families Department for the purpose of implementing a mentoring program that

pairs senior citizen volunteers recruited though the Aging and Long Term Services Department

with foster children aged eighteen to twenty-one years old.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $350.0 contained in this bill is a RECURRING expense to the GENERAL

FUND. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of 2007 shall revert to

the GENERAL FUND.

This appropriation was not part of CYFD’s request and is not included in the Executive recom-

mendation.

Senate Bill 53 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The bill would assist CYFD in meeting the current federal Chaffee plan requirement to promote

a mentoring program in order to assist in achieving a permanent connection for those youth ag-

ing out of foster care.

Public Education Department (PED) has previously highlighted the following benefits of men-

toring programs for young people:

•

Research shows adult role models, supportive relationship with three or more other adults

and adults in community valuing youth as essential to youths’ health and well-being

•

Researchers working from within a risk and resilience framework have repeatedly called

attention to the protective influence of supportive relationships with adults. Other re-

search highlighted the importance of one good relationship, and showed the importance

of significant adults in promoting healthy development of highly stressed youths.

•

Mentoring relationships can positively influence a range of outcomes, including im-

provements in peer and parental relationships, academic achievement and self-concept, as

well as lower recidivism rates among juvenile delinquents and reductions in substance

abuse.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

None noted for CYFD.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

Children, Youth and Families Department would absorb the administrative costs associated with

this additional funding.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

This bill relates to HB0315 which appropriates $50.0 to CYFD, to provide financial assistance

for foster children 18 – 21 who are seeking adequate housing.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

The bill does not specify if this program will be implemented with existing personnel or if the

Department will implement this program using professional services or transfer the appropriation

to ALTSD.

The bill does not specifically state how the funds are to be utilized when setting up this program.

The bill does not provide specific information regarding geographic areas, program objectives or

expected results.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

Status quo.

DL/mt