SR310: SR310 Senate Study Committee on Additional Services and Resources for Transition Age Youth in Foster Care; create

This resolution creates the Senate Study Committee on Additional Services and Resources for Transition Age Youth in Foster Care. It responds to research showing that young adults who grew up in foster care graduate high school, enroll in college, and find full-time work at lower rates than their peers, and are more likely to face incarceration or become young parents. The President of the Senate would appoint five senators to the committee and name one as chairperson. The committee would study current services for foster youth transitioning to adulthood, identify gaps, and recommend legislation if it chooses. Members would receive standard legislative allowances under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) for up to five meeting days unless more are approved, funded through the Senate's existing budget. The committee must file any report before it is abolished on December 1, 2025.

• Creates the Senate Study Committee on Additional Services and Resources for Transition Age Youth in Foster Care.
• Directs the President of the Senate to appoint five senators to the committee and designate one as chairperson.
• Authorizes the committee to study current services for foster youth transitioning to adulthood and recommend legislation.
• Sets legislative allowances for members under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, capped at five paid days unless additional days are approved.
• Funds the committee's work from money already appropriated to the Senate.
• Abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025, after which any approved report must be filed with the Secretary of the Senate.

The resolution directly affects the five senators appointed to serve on the committee. Its subject matter concerns young people transitioning out of Georgia's foster care system, an age group the committee's research will focus on identifying services and support for.

The committee itself does not create new services, but its findings could shape future legislation affecting how Georgia supports young people leaving foster care, an issue tied to lower rates of high school completion, college enrollment, and employment for that group compared to their peers.

• Paragraph 1 creates the Senate Study Committee on Additional Services and Resources for Transition Age Youth in Foster Care.
• Paragraph 2 sets committee membership at five senators appointed by the President of the Senate, who also names the chairperson.
• Paragraph 3 gives the committee power to study conditions and problems facing transition age foster youth and recommend legislation.
• Paragraph 4 lets the chairperson call meetings at whatever times and places the committee finds necessary.
• Paragraph 5 caps paid legislative allowances at five days unless additional days are authorized, funded from Senate appropriations.
• Paragraph 6 requires any approved findings or recommendations to be filed as a report with the Secretary of the Senate before abolishment.
• Paragraph 7 abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025.

1. 2025-03-25Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
2. 2025-03-25Senate Third Read (Senate)
3. 2025-03-21Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
4. 2025-03-20Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
5. 2025-03-03Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
6. 2025-02-28Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)Primary sponsor
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
• Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• Derek Mallow (D, SD-002)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 25, 2025

   54 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 1 absent)

   Adoption: Senate Vote #286

• foster care
• transition age youth
• child welfare
• legislative study committee