Bill > H0245

This bill amends several sections of Idaho Code to revise provisions related to foster care and extended care for young adults. The key changes include extending foster care and continued care services from age 21 to age 23 for eligible individuals, providing more flexibility for licensing relatives as foster parents, and updating various procedural requirements for foster care review hearings. Specifically, the bill allows the state department of health and welfare to extend foster care and continued care services to individuals up to 23 years old (instead of 21), grants the department more discretion in licensing relatives as foster parents by allowing expedited placement, limited variances, or separate licensing standards, and modifies review hearing requirements to include more comprehensive assessments of a child's placement, educational stability, sibling relationships, and transition planning. The bill also includes provisions for documenting efforts to find permanent placements, reviewing psychotropic medication use, and ensuring youth have appropriate support as they transition to adulthood. These changes aim to provide more comprehensive support and flexibility in the foster care system, with a particular focus on helping older youth successfully transition to independent living.

Health and Social Services

Health and Welfare Committee (H)

https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2025/legislation/H0245/