COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - An Ohio House committee has approved legislation extending the age that younger residents can get foster care services to 21.
The Rules and Reference Committee approved the measure Monday after making changes.
The legislation would increase to 21 the age that foster youths could get services, provided they meet certain education and work requirements. The panel removed an immediate appropriation, giving the state until 2017 to find funding for foster youths between 18 and 21.
Advocates estimate over 1,000 people age out of foster care at 18 each year.
A bill-of-rights for those under guardianship also was removed as a separate document under the bill. Sponsoring Rep. Dorothy Pelanda says the rights remain part of a guardian training manual. She says the bill establishes “a baseline of conduct” for caregivers.
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