Workgroup on Aging Out of Foster Care

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0915*

HOUSE BILL 915
D4, O4 6lr2770

By: Delegates Hill, Woods, Alston, Arikan, Griffith, D. Jones, Kaufman, McComas,
Pasteur, Reilly, Taveras, Taylor, White Holland, and Woorman
Introduced and read first time: February 5, 2026
Assigned to: Health
Reassigned: Appropriations, February 12, 2026
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 9, 2026

CHAPTER ______

AN ACT concerning 1

Workgroup on Aging Out of Foster Care 2

FOR the purpose of establishing the Workgroup on Aging Out of Foster Care; and generally 3
relating to the Workgroup on Aging Out of Foster Care. 4

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 5
That: 6

(a) There is a Workgroup on Aging Out of Foster Care. 7

(b) The Workgroup consists of the following members: 8

(1) the Secretary of Human Services, or the Secretary’s designee; 9

(2) the State Superintendent of Schools, or the State Superintendent’s 10
designee; 11

(3) the Secretary of Health, or the Secretary’s designee; 12

(4) the Secretary of Housing and Community Development, or the 13
Secretary’s designee; and 14

(5) the following members, appointed by the Governor: 15
2 HOUSE BILL 915

(i) 15 individuals who are at least 18 years old and under the age of 1
25 years, who: 2

1. have aged out of foster care; 3

2. are currently aging out of foster care; or 4

3. are members of the Department of Human Services’ Youth 5
Advisory Board; and 6

(ii) a representative of: 7

1. the Court–Appointed Special Advocate Program; 8

2. the Legal Aid Bureau; 9

3. the Maryland Association of Resources for Families and 10
Youth; 11

4. the Maryland Chapter of the American Academy of 12
Pediatrics; 13

5. the Maryland Chapter of the National Association of 14
Social Workers; 15

6. the Maryland Behavioral Health Coalition; 16

7. the Governor’s Office for Children; 17

8. the Maryland Association of Local Management Boards; 18

9. the Karabelle Pizzigati Initiative in Advocacy for 19
Children, Youth and Families at the University of Maryland; 20

10. Disability Rights Maryland; 21

11. the State Citizens Review Board for Children; 22

12. the Coalition to Protect Maryland’s Children; 23

13. the Office of the Public Defender; 24

14. the Maryland Youth Justice Coalition; and 25

15. Free State Justice; 26

HOUSE BILL 915 3

16. the Maryland Chapter of the National Association of 1
Pediatric Nurse Practitioners; and 2

17. the Social Services Administration’s Emerging Adults 3
Program. 4

(c) The Workgroup shall select a member to serve as chair of the Workgroup. 5

(d) The State Council on Child Abuse a nd Neglect Citizens Review Board for 6
Children shall provide staff for the Workgroup. 7

(e) (1) A member of the Workgroup is entitled to reimbursement for expenses 8
under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 9

(2) The Department of Human Services shall award a one–time stipend of 10
$2,000 to each member of the Workgroup appointed under subsection (b)(5)(i) of this 11
section. 12

(f) The Workgroup shall: 13

(1) identify the types of resources currently available for youth who have 14
aged out of foster care to achieve self –sufficiency, including stable housing, food security, 15
reliable transportation, educational programs, employment, physical and behavioral health 16
care services, disability accommodations, financial resources, and other services to address 17
basic needs; 18

(2) determine the effectiveness of currently available resources, and 19
identify challenges with current services and programs that are offered before a youth ages 20
out of the system and seek to assist youth to succes sfully transition into adulthood and 21
self–sufficiency; 22

(3) determine the types of resources that youth who have aged out of foster 23
care are most likely to utilize when seeking continuing support, such as adults, peers, 24
financial assistance organizations, and community groups; 25

(4) identify the circumstances under which youth in foster care were 26
removed from the youth’s home county during any period of foster care; and 27

(5) identify programs that have successfully improved outcomes for youth 28
who have aged out of foster care, such as a hotline or an anonymous support line. 29

(g) On or before June 1, 2027, the Workgroup shall submit a report of its findings 30
and recommendations to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2 –1257 of the State 31
Government Article. 32

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 33
1, 2026. It shall remain effective for a period of 1 year and 1 month and, at the end of June 34
4 HOUSE BILL 915

30, 2027, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be 1
abrogated and of no further force and effect. 2

Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.