Revision: May 20, 2019, 11:03 a.m.
HB 550-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
14Feb2019... 0301h
2019 SESSION
19-0421
05/10
HOUSE BILL 550-FN
AN ACT extending foster care beyond age 18.
SPONSORS: Rep. W. Pearson, Ches. 16; Rep. Ford, Graf. 3; Rep. Stringham, Graf. 5
COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires the department of health and human services to submit an amendment to the state plan under 24 U.S.C. section 641 to provide foster care services to certain individuals between 18 and 21 years of age. The bill also directs the department to extend eligibility for Chafee funds from 21 to 23 years of age.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
14Feb2019... 0301h 19-0421
05/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen
AN ACT extending foster care beyond age 18.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Extension of Foster Care Beyond the Age of 18. Amend RSA 170-E by inserting after section 52 the following new section:
170-E:53 Extension of Foster Care Beyond the Age of 18.
I. The commissioner of the department of health and human services shall, not later than 6 months after the effective date of this section, submit an amendment to the state plan required by 42 U.S.C. section 671 to the United States secretary of health and human services to implement 42 U.S.C. section 675(8) to make federal payments for foster care under Title IV-E directly on behalf of any person who meets the following requirements:
(a) The person has attained the age of 18 but not attained the age of 21.
(b) The person was in the custody of the department of health and human services upon attaining the age of 18.
(c) The person signs a voluntary participation agreement.
(d) The person:
(1) Is completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential; or
(2) Is enrolled in an institution that provides postsecondary or vocational education; or
(3) Is participating in a program or activity designed to promote, or remove barriers to, employment; or
(4) Is employed for at least 80 hours per month; or
(5) Is incapable of doing any of the activities described in subparagraphs (1)-(4) due to a medical condition, which incapacity is supported by regularly updated information in the person's case record or plan.
II. Any person who meets the requirements of paragraph I may apply for extended foster care payments and services pursuant to such application as the department may require. If a person who meets the requirements of paragraph I refused services at the time of the person's eighteenth birthday, such person may apply to regain services at any time prior to his or her twenty-first birthday.
III. Such services shall be in addition to any other transitional services or programs for which the individual may be eligible, including but not limited to those provided pursuant to 42 U.S.C. section 677, the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood. Not less than 6 months after the effective date of this section, the commissioner of the department of health and human services shall submit any amendment to the state plan or certification required under 42 U.S.C. section 677(b)(3) to provide assistance and services to individuals who have aged out of foster care and have not attained 23 years of age.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
19-0421
Revised 5/20/19
Amended 3/7/19
HB 550-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2019-0301h)
AN ACT extending foster care beyond age 18.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
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| Estimated Increase / (Decrease) | ||||
STATE: | FY 2020 | FY 2021 | FY 2022 | FY 2023 | |
Appropriation | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
Expenditures | $122,000 | $244,000 | $366,000 | $366,000 | |
Funding Source: | [ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ X ] Other - Federal Funds | ||||
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METHODOLOGY:
This bill amends RSA 169-C:34,V by extending voluntary services from the Department of Health and Human Services to include foster care for persons 18 to 21, provided that those individuals are in an educational program, vocational program, program promoting removing barriers to employment, or are employed at least 80 hours per month. Individuals 18 to 21 incapable of participating in specified programs due to medical conditions would also be eligible. This bill also requires the Commissioner to submit an amendment, six months after the effective date, to a state plan to provide assistance and services to individuals who have aged out of foster care and have not attained 23 years of age.
The Department assumes there would be 12 individuals turning 18 years old in FY 2020 who would benefit from the bill. Beginning in FY 2021, an additional 12 individuals (24 total for FY 2021) would become eligible and each year thereafter with the first set of individuals beginning to age out in FY 2023, resulting in 36 total individuals ages 18 to 21 remaining eligible. The Department estimates it would consistently provide voluntary services to 36 eligible individuals on an annual basis beginning in FY 2022.
Department-provided rates per day for these services are $27.86 resulting in $10,169 annually per person. Based on the rates provided and the Department's assumptions, expenditures would increase by approximately $122,000 in FY 2020, $244,000 in SFY 2021, and $366,000 in each FY 2022 and FY 2023. Estimated expenditures would be a mix of 50 percent general funds and 50 percent federal funds. The Department did not provide an estimated fiscal impact for the provision relating to assistance and services for individuals who have aged out of foster care and have not attained 23 years of age.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Health and Human Services