Fresh Starts for Foster Youth Act

John Cornyn

Republican · TX · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)Original· 2026-06-16

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

2026-06-16

Source: Congress.gov

States would be required to address legal problems that affect young people in foster care as part of their case planning process, and they would have the option to use federal foster care funding to help these youth access lawyers and counseling services. This would help teenagers and young adults in the foster care system deal with legal issues like housing, education, or immigration matters that could affect their successful transition to living independently. The change gives states flexibility in how they support foster youth while ensuring legal help is considered an important part of preparing them for adulthood.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4797 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4797 To require States to consider legal issues affecting youth as part of case planning and to provide States with the option to use funds from the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood to support access to legal services and counseling. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 16, 2026 Mr. Cornyn (for himself and Mr. Whitehouse) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require States to consider legal issues affecting youth as part of case planning and to provide States with the option to use funds from the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood to support access to legal services and counseling. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Fresh Starts for Foster Youth Act''. SEC. 2. LEGAL CONSULTING AND ACCESS UNDER THE JOHN H. CHAFEE FOSTER CARE PROGRAM FOR SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD. Section 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677) is amended-- (1) in subsection (a)(4), by inserting ``legal counseling access,'' after ``education,''; and (2) in subsection (b)(3), by adding at the end the following: ``(L) A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the relevant case planning and other processes employed by the State take into consideration certain legal issues affecting housing, education, entry into employment, and family connections of current and former foster youth and the efforts required to address the issues, including with respect to State court records, legal recognition of family relationships, and matters relating to custody and permanency.''. SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. (a) In General.--The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to payments under section 477 of the Social Security Act pursuant to plans approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services on or after such date. (b) Delay Permitted if State Legislation Required.--If the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines that State legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) is required in order for a State plan developed pursuant to section 477 of the Social Security Act to meet the additional requirements imposed by the amendments made by this Act, the plan shall not be regarded as failing to meet any of the additional requirements before the 1st day of the 1st calendar quarter beginning after the first regular session of the State legislature that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act. For purposes of the preceding sentence, if the State has a 2-year legislative session, each year of the session is deemed to be a separate regular session of the State legislature. <all>

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