House Bill 103 amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated related to the Department of Children's Services programs. Notably, it changes the age limit for receiving extension of foster care services from twenty-one to twenty-three years. The bill allows young adults who were in the custody of the department at age eighteen or were adopted or approved for subsidized permanent guardianship to access these services until they turn twenty-three, provided they meet certain criteria such as completing education, enrolling in postsecondary programs, participating in employment-related activities, or being employed for a minimum number of hours per month. Additionally, it mandates that young adults who did not achieve permanency through adoption must attend court hearings or administrative reviews every six months until they reach twenty-one.

The bill also makes changes to the requirements for driver license fees, stating that individuals under eighteen in the custody of the Department of Children's Services or those receiving services under the extension of foster care program will not be charged fees for licenses or identification cards. Other amendments include the removal of specific language regarding public institutions and the deletion of certain subsections to streamline the regulations. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

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