Bill Caption

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Bill Analysis

Current law requires the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to provide transitional living services to foster care children 14 years and older.

This bill would require the DFPS to ensure the transition plan for youths aged 16 years or older to include additional provisions to assist the youth in managing housing needs after leaving foster care. The additional provisions in the transition plan must:

1. identify the cost of housing in relation to the youth's sources of income, including any benefits or rental assistance available to youth;
2. inform the youth about emergency shelters and housing resources, including supervised independent living and housing at colleges and universities, such as dormitories;
3. require DFPS to review a common rental application with the youth and ensure that the youth possesses all the required documentation to obtain rental housing; and
4. identify any individuals who are able to serve as cosigners or references on the youth's applications for housing.

DFPS would also be responsible for addressing any potential conflicts with a youth if a youth decides to reside with family or friends.

Vote Recommendation Notes

The aforementioned required provisions in a youth's transition plan do not expand the scope of government. However, children who are wards of the state should not be left to fend for themselves upon adulthood without having been trained and prepared for the responsibilities of adulthood. In so far as these children are wards of the state, it is the state's job to ensure that they are prepared for the next steps when they "age out" of the foster care system. This legislation would represent an effort to train and prepare foster children to be responsible for themselves in adulthood. To that end, we support this legislation based on personal responsibility and individual liberty.