EXTENDED FOSTER CARE SERVICES Present law authorizes the department of children's services ("department") to extend foster care program services to young adults 18 to 21 to support the transition from state custody to adulthood. This bill authorizes the department to, instead, extend services until the young adult turns 23. The extension of foster care services may be provided on a voluntary basis to (i) a young adult who was in the custody of the department at the time of the young adult's 18th birthday or (ii) a young adult who was adopted, or approved for subsidized permanent guardianship, and was between 16 and 18 at the time of adoption or such approval. A young adult between 18 and 23 who satisfies either criterion may receive an extension of foster care services if the young adult is any of the following:  Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential.  Enrolled in an institution that provides postsecondary or career or technical education.  Participating in a program or activity designed to promote employment or remove barriers to employment.  Employed for at least 80 hours per month.  Incapable of doing any of these activities due to a medical condition, including a developmental or intellectual condition, which inability is supported by regularly updated information in the young adult's permanency plan. In such a case, the young adult must follow a course of treatment as recommended by the department. Present law requires an enrolled young adult to attend a court hearing or administrative review every six months. This bill further requires a young adult who did not achieve permanency through adoption or subsidized permanent guardianship to attend a court hearing or administrative review every six months until turning 21. HIGHER EDUCATION LIASONS Present law requires the department to establish a foster care youth outreach liaison pilot program at a minimum of five public higher education institutions to support youth and young adults in foster care or the extended program. However, the pilot program terminated on June 30, 2024. This bill deletes the termination date of the pilot program, removes the minimum requirement of five institutions, and provides that participating institutions do not need to be public. DRIVER LICENSE FEES Present law prohibits a person under 18 and in the custody of the department from being charged a fee for issuance, renewal, or reinstatement of a driver license, instruction permit, intermediate driver license, or photo identification card. This bill prohibits a person from being charged such fee if the person (i) is under 18 and in the custody of the department of children's services or (ii) is receiving services under the department's extension of foster care program or juvenile justice programs.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 37-2-604(d), 37-2-604, 37-2-604(c), 37-2-604(e)(4), 49-7-179, 55-50-312