SR 310: Senate Study Committee on Additional Services and Resources for Transition Age Youth in Foster Care; create

This resolution sets up the Senate Study Committee on Additional Services and Resources for Transition Age Youth in Foster Care. It responds to research showing that young people who age out of foster care lag behind their peers in high school completion, college enrollment, and employment, and are more likely to become young parents or be incarcerated. The committee will have five Senate members appointed by the President of the Senate, who will also name a chairperson. The committee can hold meetings as needed to study current services for transition age foster youth and recommend new legislation or action. Members get standard legislative allowances for up to five days unless more are approved, funded through the Senate's budget. The committee must file a report of any findings before it disbands on December 1, 2025.

• Creates a five member Senate study committee focused on services for youth transitioning out of foster care.
• Directs the President of the Senate to appoint all five members and designate one as chairperson.
• Authorizes the committee to study current resources for transition age foster youth and recommend legislation or other action.
• Sets member pay using the standard legislative allowance in O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, capped at five days unless more are approved.
• Funds the committee through money already appropriated to the Senate rather than new funding.
• Abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025, after it files a report or meeting minutes.

The resolution directly affects the five Senate members appointed to the committee and, indirectly, young people currently or formerly in Georgia's foster care system, particularly those aged roughly 16 to 21 transitioning to adulthood, along with the state agencies and organizations that serve them.

The committee's work could shape future legislation on housing, education, employment, and other support for young Georgians leaving foster care, a group the resolution says struggles more than their peers with schooling, jobs, and stable housing. Any concrete changes would depend on what the committee later recommends.

• Paragraph (1) formally creates the Senate Study Committee on Additional Services and Resources for Transition Age Youth in Foster Care.
• Paragraph (2) sets membership at five senators appointed by the President of the Senate, who also picks the chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) gives the committee authority to study foster youth transition issues and recommend legislation.
• Paragraph (5) limits paid allowances to five days per member unless additional days are approved, funded from existing Senate appropriations.
• Paragraph (6) requires a report to be filed with the Secretary of the Senate if the committee approves findings, or meeting minutes if it does not.
• 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-32)Primary sponsor
• Matt Brass (R, SD-6)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-50)
• Kim Jackson (D, SD-41)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-29)
• Derek Mallow (D, SD-2)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-42)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 25, 2025

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

   ADOPTION: Senate Vote #286

• foster care
• youth services
• legislative study committee
• child welfare