Modifies current law for extended foster care. Current law provides foster care for children up to the age of twenty-one. This act limits extended foster care services for children ages eighteen and nineteen, and for children between nineteen and twenty-one as funding allows. (Companion: SB 5245).   Official Text and Analysis.

Removes all of the provisions implementing extended foster care services for juveniles.

Removes the language directing the Department of Social and Health Services to create a plan for implementing the older youth provisions of the Fostering Connections Act and the report to the Legislature. The definition of a youth, juvenile, or child is amended to include an individual who has been in foster care and is eligible for and elects to receive extended foster care services. Foster youth, up to age 21, who are participating in or completing a high school or vocational school program are allowed to remain in extended foster care. A separate section within Chapter 74.13 is created for the current Foster Care to 21 program. The dates included in the intent section of the bill are corrected.

To modify the statement of Legislative intent and modifies the definition of a child or youth to include individuals who are age 18 and who elect to receive extended foster care services, rather than including individuals ages 18 to 21 and modifies the authority of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to provide extended foster care services; the DSHS has the authority to provide such services to youth until they reach 19, rather than age 21, among other things.

To amend the definition of a youth, child, or juvenile to mean an individual age 18 to age 21 who is eligible for and elects to receive extended foster care services. Allows foster youth to continue to receive extended foster care services, up to age 21, if the youth is participating in or completing a high school or vocational school program.

To clarify that youth enrolled in a secondary education program or its equivalent are eligible for both the current Foster Care to 21 Program as well as the federal Fostering Connections Program into which the state is opting by virtue of this bill. Clarifies that the right to appointment of counsel is only for those youth who continue on in a dependency after their eighteenth birthday.

House concurred with the Senate amendments.