Bill to extend educational‑stability plans to children under 5 laid over for fiscal review

Representative Pinto introduced House File 36‑65, a proposal to extend educational‑stability provisions in out‑of‑home placement plans to children under age 5 and to ensure foster families consistently receive information about available child care and assistance.

Tammy Thomas, who said she spent time in foster care and later became a kinship guardian, testified that research and interviews showed foster children participate in early care and education at lower rates than other children and that a lack of information can be a key barrier. "This bill ensures that crucial services and information are consistently provided to foster families," she said.

Members asked how the requirement would operate in emergency placements and whether counties could meet the standard in areas with child‑care shortages. Representative Pinto and Chair West said the bill recognizes county capacity limits and does not impose identical expectations for early learning that apply to K‑12, but seeks equivalent efforts tailored to the 0‑5 context.

The committee adopted an oral amendment to the A1 and then adopted the A1 as amended. Chair moved to lay the bill over pending a fiscal note; the committee agreed and the bill was laid over for further review.

The next procedural step is completion of the requested fiscal analysis before the committee resumes consideration.