Appropriates $200,000 for FY 2006-2007 to the Office of Youth Services Former Foster Child Assistance Program to assist former foster children between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four in job placement, skills training, education, and housing. (HB2044 HD1)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that each year approximately one hundred twenty-five foster children reach the age of adulthood and leave the foster care system losing benefits and much-needed assistance, many facing the risk of homelessness. An at-risk gap group of these young adults has been identified, that includes those post-foster care recipients who are between the ages of eighteen to twenty-four who were formally adjudicated in the family courts, and reached the age of adulthood while under the custody and supervision of the executive director of the office of youth services. This at-risk group is in need of further assistance, job placement, skills training, education, and housing.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department of human services, office of youth services to provide assistance to former Hawaii foster children in need of assistance who fall into this gap group.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $200,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007 to provide assistance in the areas of job placement, skills training, education, and housing through the department of human services, office of youth services, to former foster children between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four who were formally adjudicated, and reached the age of adulthood while under the custody and supervision of the executive director of the office of youth services.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services, office of youth services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.