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

25 LC 57 0256 Senate Resolution 310 By: Senators Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Brass of the 6th, Hatchett of the 50th, Jackson of the 41st, Robertson of the 29th and others ADOPTED SENATE A RESOLUTION Creating the Senate Study Committee on Additional Services and Resources for Transition1 Age Youth in Foster Care; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, the transition from adolescence to adulthood is a critical developmental stage3 as young people learn the necessary skills to be healthy and productive adults; and4 WHEREAS, such transition can be challenging for youth with foster care experience; and5 WHEREAS, according to a recent study, teenagers and young adults ages 16 to 21 are less6 likely to leave foster care with permanent families than they were in years past; and7 WHEREAS, young adults with foster care experience continue to be far less likely than their8 peers in the general population to be enrolled in education or training subsequent to high9 school or be stably housed or employed, and are often more likely to become young parents10 or to experience incarceration; and11 WHEREAS, according to a 2021 study, among 21 year olds with foster care experience, 7912 percent earned a high school diploma or its equivalent compared to 92 percent of their peers13 in the general population; and14 S. R. 310 - 1 - 25 LC 57 0256 WHEREAS, according to such study, only 24 percent of those foster care youth had enrolled15 in postsecondary education or training, compared to 50 percent of their peers in the general16 population; and17 WHEREAS, moreover, according to such study, only 55 percent of those foster care youth18 were employed full time or part time, compared to 64 percent of their peers in the general19 population; and20 WHEREAS, understanding the outcomes of young adults with foster care experience is21 critical to shaping the services and support they need; and22 WHEREAS, a study committee is needed to determine what resource s and services are23 currently being provided for transition age youth in this state and what additional services24 and resources may be or should be available in order to ensure their success in adulthood.25 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE:26 (1) Creation of Senate study committee. There is created the Senate Study Committee27 on Additional Services and Resources for Transition Age Youth in Foster Care.28 (2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of five members of the29 Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall30 designate a member of the committee as chairperson of the committee.31 (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,32 issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or33 legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.34 (4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee35 may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or36 S. R. 310 - 2 - 25 LC 57 0256 convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and37 accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.38 (5) Allowances and funding. The legislative members of the committee shall receive39 the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Offic ial Code of Georgia40 Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any41 member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. 42 Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds43 appropriated to the Senate.44 (6) Report.45 (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that46 include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the47 same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolut ion, subject to48 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.49 (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not i nclude suggestions for50 proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)51 of this paragraph.52 (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of53 abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.54 A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with55 the Secretary of the Senate.56 (D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Secretary57 of the Senate a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.58 (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.59 S. R. 310 - 3 -