The Louisiana Department of Children and Family
Services has considered the feasibility of extending foster care from age 18 to
21. It worked with Democrat state Sen. Regina
Barrow, who has long taken an interest in children’s policy, to introduce a
resolution
to study this at the start of that session. In early May, both chambers had
signed off on it, scheduling the report’s completion by Feb. 1, 2019.
But even before this, Republican state Sen. Ryan Gatti filed a bill to do the
same for any foster child enrolled in high school or something equivalent. That
passed out of the Legislature only days later, although it hinged upon receiving
funding for implementation.
Even more interestingly, Gatti’s bill read that it would become law upon the governor’s signature. That happened at the beginning of June before session’s end, although it wouldn’t take effect without an appropriation.
That came three weeks later, when in special
session the Legislature effectively reversed only a portion of taxes it raised
over two years earlier. $1 million of the tax increase – which, ironically,
Gatti voted against – went towards funding his initiative.
This put DCFS in a weird position. At the same
time it helps to prepare a report about what policy it should follow, the new
law already moots considerably the purpose of that report. Only about 50 youth who will
turn 18 but haven’t obtained a high school diploma and aren’t pursuing
something like that wouldn’t qualify as statute presently is.
However, the report can investigate whether to
expand foster care those under 21 pursuing further education or who have medical
difficulties. Federal dollars exist that with a state match can fund that.
The problem is whether this cart-before-the-horse
routine will create problems. What if the study determines expanding the
program, in any form, makes for a too-costly long-term commitment with
insufficient positive impact? That would mean the state would have to pull the
rug out from under existing beneficiaries.
(After the session, Gatti also held an event
where he collected gift cards on behalf of foster families, to which he invited
his law school pal Democrat Gov. John Bel Edwards.
He insists no campaign fundraising activities occurred on this occasion, and he
has held other such events with other politicians.)
DCFS claims Gatti’s bill blindsided the agency.
Yet Gatti filed his before Barrow’s and Barrow herself eventually signed on as
a co-sponsor of his. Gatti and Barrow each voted for the other’s effort, just days
apart. Why Gatti, Barrow, and DCFS didn’t all get together on this seems a mystery.
Hopefully, this lack of communication won’t gum up
the works, and the state eventually will come up with optimal, coordinated
policy regarding older foster children.
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