Logo

Bill Tracker

based on: Profile: LWVCO - Children's Issues

 
 
Loading... Please Wait
You have 2 bills in your selected Profile
download download to spreadsheet
download download to pdf
download download to docx

Notes about this profile:

LAC Lobbyist: Kate Ward


Bill: HB21-1094
Title: Foster Youth In Transition Program
VotesVotes all Legislators
Hearing Date
Hearing Time
Hearing Room
Intro Date02/16/2021
DescriptionConcerning the transition of youth in Colorado's foster care system to successful adulthood, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
HistoryBill History
Save to Calendar
Bill Subject- Children & Domestic Matters
- Human Services
Bill DocsBill Documents
Sponsors (House and Senate)Senate:
B. Rankin (R)
R. Zenzinger (D)
House:
L. Daugherty (D)
T. Van Beber (R)
Fiscal NotesFiscal Notes (08/17/2021)
Full TextFull Text of Bill
LobbyistsLobbyists
Position
Category
Comment
Custom Summary

This bill has two main purposes:

1) Allows foster youth who have left the program to voluntarily re-enter between the ages of 18-21. Many foster youth are eager to emancipate from the system only to discover they need help with housing, employment, education, mental health, etc. Studies show when they receive that help, positive statistics related to graduation rates, employment, not being homeless, improved mental health go way up. The bill contains a process for determining eligibility and allows for the youth to have direct counsel representation (as opposed to a guardian).

2) Creates a grant program and advisory board to provides services to youth 18-23 to help transition to adulthood. To be eligible, youth must be 18-23, formerly in foster care or adjudicated dependent and neglected, and participating voluntarily.

This bill is in line with legislation we have supported in the past related to our positions on Children’s Support Systems, and in fact is directly related to a 2018 bill we supported that created a task force or relevant stakeholders, called the Chafee Modernization Task Group. The work of that group resulted in this bill, HB21-1094. 

Summary

The bill creates the foster youth in transition program (transition
program) in the state department of human services (state department) to
be implemented in county departments of human or social services
(county departments) throughout the state. The purpose of the transition
program is to allow foster youth who meet eligibility criteria to
voluntarily continue to receive certain child welfare services (services) up

until the last day of the month of the youth's twenty-first birthday, or such
greater age of foster care eligibility as required by federal law. Services
provided through the transition program must be client-directed and
developmentally appropriate as set forth in and agreed to through a
voluntary services agreement (agreement) developed and entered into
between the youth and county department.
The bill sets forth the eligibility criteria a youth must meet in order
to voluntarily participate in the transition program. A youth who is no
longer under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court and thinks he or she is
eligible for the transition program may make a written request to the
juvenile court (court) or county department where the youth resides. The
county department shall make a determination of eligibility. If the youth
is eligible, the county department shall explain the requirements and
benefits of the transition program to the youth and, with the youth,
develop an agreement that must be provided to the juvenile court together
with a petition to renew jurisdiction with the juvenile court.
The bill describes the services and supports that will be made
available to a youth through the transition program, including assistance
with enrolling in medicaid; assistance with securing appropriate housing;
and providing case management services, such as developing a roadmap
to success, obtaining employment, obtaining critical documents and
records, and accessing information about relatives and siblings, if
available and appropriate.
The bill sets forth the form and content required for a petition to
bring the youth under the juvenile court's jurisdiction. Upon receipt of
informed, written consent of the youth, a person may be named as a
special respondent in a case brought pursuant to the transition program.
A youth participating in the transition program must be appointed
counsel from a list of attorneys approved by the office of the child's
representative. If the youth is 18 years of age or older and, due to
diminished capacity, needs a guardian ad litem, one may also be
appointed.
Procedures for emancipation discharge and transition hearings
(hearing) are described in the bill, including a requirement to have a
personalized emancipation transition plan finalized for the youth no more
than 90 days prior to a hearing. The county department shall file a report
with the court at least 7 days prior to a transition hearing that includes
relevant details concerning a youth's status and plans to either emancipate
or enter the youth in transition program. With the youth's consent and in
certain circumstances, the court may continue a transition hearing for up
to 119 days.
The court shall hold periodic reviews of the youth's case at least
every 6 months to ensure that the transition program is providing the
youth with the necessary services to help the youth move toward
permanency and a successful transition to adulthood. The bill sets forth
procedures for the periodic reviews. The bill grants continuing
jurisdiction in a youth's case to the juvenile court under certain situations.
The bill creates the foster youth successful transition to adulthood
grant program (grant program) and associated advisory board (advisory
board). The purpose of the grant program is to support eligible youth to
successful transition into adulthood. Youth are eligible for services from
recipients of grants from the grant program if they are between the ages
of 18 and 23, were in foster care or adjudicated dependent and neglected,
and are participating voluntarily. The advisory board shall meet at least
2 times per year, and the bill outlines membership.
The state department is directed to promulgate rules for the
implementation of the transition program.
The bill makes conforming amendments.

House SponsorsL. Daugherty (D)
T. Van Beber (R)
Senate SponsorsB. Rankin (R)
R. Zenzinger (D)
House CommitteePublic and Behavioral Health & Human Services
Senate CommitteeHealth and Human Services
StatusGovernor Signed (06/25/2021)
Amendments

Bill: HB21-1304
Title: Early Childhood System
VotesVotes all Legislators
Hearing Date
Hearing Time
Hearing Room
Intro Date05/05/2021
DescriptionConcerning measures to establish a unified early childhood system in Colorado, and, in connection therewith, creating the department of early childhood and making an appropriation.
HistoryBill History
Save to Calendar
Bill Subject- Children & Domestic Matters
Bill DocsBill Documents
Sponsors (House and Senate)Senate:
J. Buckner (D)
S. Fenberg (D)
House:
A. Garnett (D)
E. Sirota (D)
Fiscal NotesFiscal Notes (07/12/2021)
Full TextFull Text of Bill
LobbyistsLobbyists
Position
Category
Comment
Custom Summary

This bill creates the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, introduces a community-informed process to unify early childhood services, and requires a plan to implement voluntary universal preschool statewide in alignment with voter intent in Prop EE. The new department will strengthen Colorado’s early care and education system by reducing bureaucracy and duplicative efforts spread across various agencies and improve provider support to help ensure that families can obtain services they need when they need them.

The League believes this bill aligns with our position on Child Care and Education that supports programs, services and policies at all levels of government to expand the supply of affordable, quality child care for all who need it.

Summary

Effective July 1, 2022, the bill creates the department of early
childhood (new department) to:
  • Provide early childhood opportunities;
  • Coordinate the availability of early childhood programs and
services throughout Colorado;

  • Establish state and community partnerships for a mixed
delivery of child care and early childhood programs
through school- and community-based providers;
  • Prioritize the interests and input of children, parents,
providers, and the community in designing and delivering
early childhood services and programs;
  • Prioritize the equitable delivery of resources and supports
for early childhood; and
  • Unify the administration of early childhood programs and
services.
The bill moves the early childhood leadership commission
(commission) to the new department, effective July 1, 2022.
The bill creates a transition working group (working group)
consisting of the co-chairs of the commission and representatives of
certain state agencies and the governor's office, and directs the co-chairs
of the commission to convene a transition advisory group (advisory
group). The bill directs the working group, working with a consultant and
with the advice of the advisory group, to develop a transition plan (plan)
for the coordination and administration of early childhood services and
programs by the new department and the departments of education,
human services, and public health and environment, including, to the
extent necessary, the transition of existing programs and services to the
new department. The bill includes specific requirements for the plan. The
governor's office must submit the plan to the joint budget committee as
part of the governor's 2022 budget request, and the working group must
submit the plan to the commission for approval. As soon as practicable
after the plan is approved, the governor's office must submit the approved
plan to the joint budget committee with any necessary budget request
amendments. The working group must submit the approved plan to other
committees of the general assembly by November 15, 2021, and must
meet with the early childhood and school readiness legislative
commission by December 1, 2021, to present the plan.
The bill also directs the working group, working with the
consultant and with the advice of the advisory group, to develop
recommendations for a new voluntary, universal preschool program
(recommendations) to be funded partially by the recently increased sales
tax on tobacco and operated by the new department beginning in the
2023-24 school year. The bill specifies requirements that the new
preschool program must meet. The working group must submit the
recommendations to the commission for approval and must then submit
the recommendations to the joint budget committee and other committees
of the general assembly by January 15, 2022.
The bill requires the governor's office to contract with one or more
private entities to consult with the working group in developing and
implementing the plan and in developing the recommendations and to
analyze the current use of existing early childhood programs in the state.

House SponsorsA. Garnett (D)
E. Sirota (D)
Senate SponsorsJ. Buckner (D)
S. Fenberg (D)
House CommitteeEducation
Senate CommitteeEducation
StatusGovernor Signed (06/23/2021)
Amendments
back to top
 
 
 
Copyright © 2008-2023 State Capitol Watch