,i #aahth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gjaj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #ag1 #bjbd,ms4 ,chu 7for herself and ,mrs4 ,houchin7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,ways and ,means ,a ,,bill ,to provide an incentive for ,states to extend child welfare support and services for youth through #ba years of age1 and to allow youth to re-enter foster care after attaining #ah years of age1 both without regard to the ,,afdc eligibility of their parents or legal guardians1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,increasing ,access to ,foster ,care ,through ,age #ba ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,the ,congress finds that each additional year in extended foster care has-- 7#a7 significantly increased the probability that youth completed a high school credential by approximately #h percent2 7#b7 increased their expected probability of enrolling in college by between #aj percent and #aa percent2 7#c7 increased the number of quarters that youth have been employed between their #ahth and #bast birthdays2 7#d7 increased the amount of money youth have had in bank accounts by an average of approximately #djd2 7#e7 increased the odds that youth have described a professional as a source of social support2 7#f7 significantly decreased the amount of money youth have received in need-based public food assistance by an average of more than #gjj2 7#g7 decreased the odds of having experienced an additional economic hardship between the ages of #ag and #ba by approximately #ab percent2 7#h7 decreased the odds of being homeless or couch-surfing between the ages of #ag and #ba by approximately #bh percent2 7#i7 decreased the odds that youth have become pregnant or impregnated a female between the ages of #ag and #ba by approximately #bh percent2 and 7#aj7 decreased the odds that youth have been arrested between the ages of #ag and #ba by approximately #da percent and decreased the odds that youth have been convicted of a crime during the same period by approximately #dj percent4 #c4 ,extended child welfare support and services for youth transitioning from foster care 7a7 ,in general ,section #dge7h7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fge7h77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking subparagraph 7,b7 and inserting subparagraphs 7,b7 and 7,c72 7#b7 by striking subparagraph 7,b7 and inserting the following3 7,b7 ,at the option of the ,state and youth involved1 the term shall include a youth who is in foster care under the responsibility of the ,state4 2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7,c7 ,the term shall include a youth-- 7i7 7,i7 with respect to whom an adoption assistance agreement is in effect under section #dgc if the youth had attained #af years of age before the agreement became effective2 or 7,,ii7 with respect to whom a kinship guardianship assistance agreement is in effect under section #dgc7;d7 if the youth had attained #af years of age before the agreement became effective2 and 7ii7 who has not attained #ai1 #bj1 #ba1 or #bb years of age1 as the ,state may elect4 7,d7 ,in this paragraph1 the term youth means an individual-- 7i7 who has attained #ah years of age2 and 7ii7 who has not attained #bb years of age4 4 7b7 ,guidance and technical assistance ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services shall provide guidance and technical assistance to ,states on best practices for outreach to youth who are newly eligible for services as a result of the enactment of this section4 #d4 ,promoting the re-entry of youth into extended foster care 7a7 ,in general ,section #dga7;a7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fga7;a77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking and at the end of paragraph 7#cf72 7#b7 by adding and at the end of paragraph 7#cg72 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7#ch7 if the ,state exercises the option provided for in section #dge7h71 shall-- 7,a7 permit any youth who has attained #ah years of age and meets the requirements of section #dge7h77;,c7 to voluntarily re-enter foster care2 and 7,b7 facilitate the voluntary return of any such youth to foster care4 4 7b7 ,guidance and technical assistance ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services shall provide guidance and technical assistance to ,states on best practices for outreach to youth who have left foster care and are otherwise eligible for re-entry into foster care4 #e4 ,providing for ,states to improve outcomes for transition-aged youth and young adults ,section #dgb7;a77#a77;,b7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fgb7;a77#a77;,b77 is amended by inserting except in the case of a youth who has attained #ah years of age and meets the requirements of section #dge7h77;,c71 before the child4 #f4 ,effective date 7a7 ,in general ,the amendments made by this ,act shall take effect on the #ast day of the #ast fiscal year beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and shall apply to payments under part ,e of title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act for calendar quarters beginning on or after such date4 7b7 ,delay permitted if ,state legislation required ,if the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services determines that ,state legislation 7other than legislation appropriating funds7 is required in order for a ,state plan developed pursuant to part ,e of title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act to meet the additional requirements imposed by the amendments made by this ,act1 the plan shall not be regarded as failing to meet any of the additional requirements before the #ast day of the #ast calendar quarter beginning after the first regular session of the ,state legislature that begins after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 ,for purposes of the preceding sentence1 if the ,state has a #b-year legislative session1 each year of the session is deemed to be a separate regular session of the ,state legislature4 #g4 ,workforce development ,within #ij days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 through the ,administration for ,children and ,families1 shall1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,labor1 develop and issue guidance to ,state and local agencies operating a program under a ,state plan approved under part ,e of title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act on how case workers can connect youth eligible for foster care by reason of an amendment made by section #c or #d of this ,act to workforce development programs under title ,i of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act4