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

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 Transition Age Youth in Foster Care; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the transition from adolescence to adulthood is a critical developmental stage as young people learn the necessary skills to be healthy and productive adults; and

WHEREAS, such transition can be challenging for youth with foster care experience; and

WHEREAS, according to a recent study, teenagers and young adults ages 16 to 21 are less likely to leave foster care with permanent families than they were in years past; and

WHEREAS, young adults with foster care experience continue to be far less likely than their peers in the general population to be enrolled in education or training subsequent to high school or be stably housed or employed, and are often more likely to become young parents or to experience incarceration; and

WHEREAS, according to a 2021 study, among 21 year olds with foster care experience, 79 percent earned a high school diploma or its equivalent compared to 92 percent of their peers in the general population; and

WHEREAS, according to such study, only 24 percent of those foster care youth had enrolled in postsecondary education or training, compared to 50 percent of their peers in the general population; and

WHEREAS, moreover, according to such study, only 55 percent of those foster care youth were employed full time or part time, compared to 64 percent of their peers in the general population; and

WHEREAS, understanding the outcomes of young adults with foster care experience is critical to shaping the services and support they need; and

WHEREAS, a study committee is needed to determine what resources and services are currently being provided for transition age youth in this state and what additional services and resources may be or should be available in order to ensure their success in adulthood.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE:

(1) Creation of Senate study committee. There is created the Senate Study Committee on Additional Services and Resources for Transition Age Youth in Foster Care.

(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of five members of the Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson of the committee.

(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.

(4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.

(5) Allowances and funding. The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds appropriated to the Senate.

(6) Report.

(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.

(B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.

(C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with the Secretary of the Senate.

(D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Secretary of the Senate a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.

(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.