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

SPONSOR Taylor

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2-8-06

HB

SHORT TITLE 18-21 YEAR-OLD FOSTER CARE LIAISON

SB 410

ANALYST Lucero

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates,Relates to HB315 “18-21 YEAR-OLD FOSTER CHILD HOUSING SERVICES” &

SB53 “18-21 YEAR-OLD FOSTER CHILD MENTORING PROGRAM”.

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Public Education Department (PED)

Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)

Office of Workforce Training and Development (OWTD)

Labor Department (LD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

SB 410 directs the Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD) to designate a half-time

liaison for foster services to focus on social, housing, employment and educational needs for

children ages 18 to 21 who have been in state foster care. Additionally, this bill requires CYFD

to coordinate with other states agencies:

1) A CYFD liaison shall serve on the youth transition task force of CYFD,

2) Convene individualized transition planning meetings for foster care children ages eighteen

to twenty-one who are still entitled to educational services, and their their foster parents,

and issue invitations to such meetings to appropriate staff from other agencies including

Senate Bill 410 – Page

2

the Public Education Department (PED), universities, local school districts, the Office of

Workforce Training and Development (OWTD) or Labor Department and the Vocational

Rehabilitation Division of the Public Education Department.

3) Make recommendations departments, agencies and the legislative welfare reform over-

sight committee on strategies to properly fund programs and provide guidance for chil-

dren ages 18-21 that have been in foster care.

There is no appropriation in this bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The CYFD would be required to appoint a half-time FTE. There is no appropriation in the bill;

therefore, CYFD would have to absorb the administrative cost.

There is minimal fiscal impact on the PED. The PED would have to designate an FTE to serve

on the individualized transition planning meetings for foster care children. The number or loca-

tion of meetings is not determined in the bill.

This bill has no fiscal or budgetary impact to the Judiciary.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

According to CYFD, this position already exists and is filled at this time. The Independent Liv-

ing Manager’s duties include managing foster services for 18 to 21 year olds in the areas of so-

cial, housing, employment and education. This position also makes recommendations to de-

partments, agencies and the legislative welfare reform committee on strategies for funding and

guiding 18 to 21-year-olds who have been in foster care. CYFD also has four regional Inde-

pendent Living Coordinators who provide these services throughout the state.

As of January 2006, this age group (18-21 year olds) was added to the Adoption Review Team

process and all individuals in this age group will be reviewed for transition every 60 days.

The PED is specifically named in the bill as be represented on the individualized transition plan-

ning meetings for foster care children ages 18-21 who are entitled to education services.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

None

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The CYFD would be required to appoint a half-time FTE. There is no appropriation in the bill;

therefore, CYFD would have to absorb the administrative cost.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

18-21 YEAR-OLD FOSTER CHILD MENTORING PROGRAM

Senate Bill 410 – Page

3

TECHNICAL ISSUES

The bill refers to “children” aged 18-21, but such persons have reached the age of adult majority.

This is relevant because the point of the bill is that once turning 18, young adults formerly in the

foster care system are no longer children or youth under state custody.

The Office of Workforce Training and Development would not be responsible for the delivery of

services to transitioning youth, but may place the liaison in touch with the appropriate parties

within each of the local Workforce Development Areas/Boards- but most importantly, be a par-

ticipant in the One-Stop Centers.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

Although the bill has no direct impact to the Judiciary, the AOC’s Court Improvement Project

(CIP) has recognized the importance of the issue of youth aging out of the foster care system

without having achieved permanent placement before reaching the age of majority who have lit-

tle support provided and few services available to them. After reaching the age of 18, former

foster children are no longer under court-supervised state custody, but the CIP is concerned that

they often transition to adulthood and independence with few connections, no familial ties or

support, little state assistance, and next to no means or resources of their own. The CIP has

adopted work on this problem to be an initiative in its strategic plan, and, in general, supports

efforts to improve the situation and assist youth who are transitioning from, and young adults

who have aged-out of, the foster care system, including the development of strategies to properly

fund programs and provide guidance for former foster children.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

Status Quo

DL/mt