The Kentucky House and Senate have given final approval to a couple of bills aimed at helping the eight-thousand children in the state’s foster care system.
One would allow youth removed from their homes to be placed with people not related to them, but who they know and trust.
Tara Grieshop-Goodwin is the chief policy officer at Kentucky Youth Advocates. "That could be a neighbor, a member of the child's church, a coach, or just someone who that child trusts and has a relationship," Goodwin said.
She said the legislation would prevent some kids from having to enter foster care.
Another bill would let 16 and 17-year-olds in foster care to obtain a driver’s license. Current law doesn’t allow them to because their parents or legal guardians must sign and accept responsibility for the license.
"Youth on foster care sometimes miss out on some of those normal experiences that other teenagers get to have. We know getting a driver's license is like a rite of passage for many of us," Goodwin said.
The bill would allow the child to take on the liability, as long as they have the required insurance.
Both bills are headed to Governor Matt Bevin’s desk.
