Fresh Starts for Foster Youth Act
Sponsored By: Senator Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced
Summary
Legal help for foster youth would be added to the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program, and states would have to factor housing, education, employment, and family-relationship legal issues into case planning for current and former foster youth.
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- Current and former foster youth — Would gain access to "legal counseling access" as an eligible Chafee service to help with housing, education, entry into employment, and maintaining family connections.
- State leaders and child welfare agencies — Would need a certification from the state's chief executive that case plans and related processes consider legal issues such as State court records, legal recognition of family relationships, and matters relating to custody and permanency.
- Timing and compliance — The changes would take effect 1 year after enactment and apply to plans approved by the Department of Health and Human Services on or after that date. If a State needs new laws to comply the deadline can be delayed until after the State's next regular legislative session.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More legal help for foster youth
If enacted, this bill would add legal counseling access to the Chafee program for current and former foster youth. Changes would take effect one year after enactment and apply to State plans HHS approves on or after that date. Each State's chief executive would have to certify that case planning considers legal issues affecting housing, education, employment, and family connections. The certification would include issues like State court records, legal recognition of family ties, custody, and permanency. If the Secretary determines State law is required, a plan would not be treated as failing until the first day of the first calendar quarter after the State's next regular legislative session that begins after enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cornyn, John [R-TX]
TX • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
RI • D
Sponsored 6/16/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov