HB 1961-S2.E - DIGEST
(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

Authorizes a youth who remains eligible for placement services or benefits pursuant to department of social and health services' rules to continue to receive placement services and benefits until the youth reaches his or her twenty-first birthday.

Authorizes the department of social and health services, within amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, to provide adoption support benefits or subsidized relative guardianship benefits on behalf of youth ages eighteen to twenty-one years, who achieved permanency through adoption or a subsidized relative guardianship at age sixteen or older, and who are: (1) Enrolled and participating in a postsecondary or vocational educational program;

(2) Participating in a program or activity designed to promote or remove barriers to employment;

(3) Engaged in employment for eighty hours or more per month; or

(4) Incapable of engaging in any of the activities described in (1) through (3) above due to a medical condition that is supported by regularly updated information.

Authorizes the department of social and health services, within amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, to provide continued foster care or group care to youth ages eighteen to twenty-one who are engaged in one of the activities in (1) through (4) above.

Directs the department of social and health services to conduct routine and cost-efficient outreach regarding the relative guardianship program through the kinship care oversight committee, the area administrations on aging, and appropriate community partners.