SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1867

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Title: An act relating to improving transitions in extended foster care to increase housing stability for foster youth.

Brief Description: Improving transitions in extended foster care to increase housing stability for foster youth.

Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Fey, Stambaugh, Senn, Kagi, Kilduff, Appleton, Graves, Hudgins, Orwall, Ryu, Sells, Stanford, Robinson, McDonald, Ortiz-Self, Doglio, Slatter, Tharinger and Ormsby).

Brief History: Passed House: 3/03/17, 95-2.

Committee Activity: Human Services, Mental Health & Housing: 3/15/17, 3/22/17 [DPA-WM].

Ways & Means: 3/29/17.

Brief Summary of Amended Bill

Allows eligible youth to unenroll and reenroll in the extended foster care program once between ages 18 and 21.
Requires the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to conduct a study related to extended foster care and issue a preliminary report by December 1, 2018, and a final report by December 1, 2019.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH & HOUSING

Majority Report: Do pass as amended and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Signed by Senators O'Ban, Chair; Miloscia, Vice Chair; Darneille, Ranking Minority Member; Carlyle, Hunt, Padden and Walsh.

Staff: Alison Mendiola (786-7444)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Staff: Maria Hovde (786-7474)

Background: Extended Foster Care Program. The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) operates the extended foster care program which allows individuals who are dependent in foster care at age 18 to receive services if that youth is:

enrolled in a secondary education program or equivalent program;
enrolled and participating in a postsecondary academic or postsecondary vocational program, or has applied for and can demonstrate an intention to timely enroll in a postsecondary academic or vocational program;
participating in a program or activity designed to promote employment or remove barriers to employment;
engaged in employment for 80 or more hours per month; or
not able to engage in the above activities due to a documented medical condition.

For eligible youth that choose to participate in the extended foster care program on their eighteenth birthday, the dependency court action will continue. Eligible youth may choose to participate in the extended foster care after their eighteenth birthday and until the youth turns 19 years old through a voluntary placement agreement with the DSHS.

The services that youth may receive through the extended foster care program include foster care placement or supervised independent living setting placement; medical; dental; independent living skills; case management through the DSHS; and referrals to community resources.

In October 2016, there were 569 youth receiving extended foster care services.

Summary of Amended Bill: Youth who have received extended foster care services are allowed to reenter the program once through a voluntary placement agreement when they meet the criteria again. Individuals who are eligible for extended foster care services may unenroll and reenroll in extended foster care once between ages 18 and 21.

The Washington Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) shall conduct a study measuring the outcomes for youth who have received extended foster care services. The study should include a measurement of any savings to state and local governments and compare the outcome of youth who have received extended foster care to youth who aged out of foster care when they reached the age of 18. To the extent possible, the study should also include a comparison of other state extended foster care programs and review of studies that have been completed measuring the outcomes of those programs. WSIPP is to issue a preliminary report of its findings by December 1, 2018, and a final report by December 1, 2019. WSIPP is authorized to accept nonstate funds to conduct this study.

EFFECT OF HUMAN SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH & HOUSING COMMITTEE AMENDMENT(S):

Allows eligible youth to unenroll and reenroll in extended foster care once between the ages of 18-21.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed. If specific funding is not provided for this act, this act is null and void.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Substitute House Bill (Human Services, Mental Health & Housing): The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: The idea for this bill came from the Office of Homeless Youth Advisory Committee. Some youth think they don't need extended foster care (EFC) but later realize they do. Many youth that go without EFC end up homeless which has a cost but also a consequence of no employment or education. The WSIPP evaluation is needed to help us determine what is and isn't working. Federal law allows youth to reenter EFC an unlimited number of times. There may be instances where a youth has a gap in eligibility, like if a youth finishes high school but hasn't found a job yet. Providing this flexibility to EFC would increase the success of EFC.

OTHER: Allowing youth to continuously exit and reenter EFC would be an administrative nightmare. Reestablishing eligibility is expensive, also 20 percent of EFC are in BRS which is expensive. BRS is not forecasted, there is a finite pool of money. The fiscal note goes through various scenarios since we don't know how many times a youth will exit and re-enter EFC. We know 53 youth exit before the age of 21.

Persons Testifying (Human Services, Mental Health & Housing): PRO: Representative Jake Fey, Prime Sponsor; Brianna Winslow, The Mockingbird Society; Mary Van Cleve, Columbia Legal Services. OTHER: Jennifer Strus, DSHS.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Human Services, Mental Health & Housing): No one.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Bill as Amended by Human Services, Mental Health & Housing (Ways & Means): PRO: Nationally, only 58 percent of foster children graduate from high school by age 19. By age 24, only half are employed. Fewer than 2 percent of foster children have a college degree by age 25. Many former foster kids end up homeless or incarcerated. This bill helps kids by giving them a second chance to continue in school and work programs. This will also provide an updated evaluation of the extended foster care system. A prior WSIPP study on extended foster care determined that for every dollar invested, the taxpayers receive $1.35 in return. This bill is a fiscal benefit to the state.

Persons Testifying (Ways & Means): PRO: Representative Jake Fey, Prime Sponsor; Jim Theofelis, A Way Home WA; Mary Van Cleve, Columbia Legal Services.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Ways & Means): No one.