HB 915

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 ______
1 AN ACT concerning
2Workgroup on Aging Out of Foster Care
3 FOR the purpose of establishing the Workgroup on Aging Out of Foster Care; and generally
4      relating to the Workgroup on Aging Out of Foster Care.
5SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
6 That:
7(a)   There is a Workgroup on Aging Out of Foster Care.
8(b)   The Workgroup consists of the following members:
9(1)     the Secretary of Human Services, or the Secretary’s designee;
10(2)     the State Superintendent of Schools, or the State Superintendent’s
11 designee;
12(3)     the Secretary of Health, or the Secretary’s designee;
13(4)   the Secretary of Housing and Community Development, or the
14 Secretary’s designee; and
15(5)     the following members, appointed by the Governor:
     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*
2HOUSE BILL 915
1(i)    15 individuals who are at least 18 years old and under the age of
2 25 years, who:
31.    have aged out of foster care;
42.    are currently aging out of foster care; or
53.    are members of the Department of Human Services’ Youth
6 Advisory Board; and
7(ii)   a representative of:
81.    the Court–Appointed Special Advocate Program;
92.    the Legal Aid Bureau;
103.    the Maryland Association of Resources for Families and
11 Youth;
124.    the Maryland Chapter of the American Academy of
13 Pediatrics;
145.    the Maryland Chapter of the National Association of
15 Social Workers;
166.    the Maryland Behavioral Health Coalition;
177.    the Governor’s Office for Children;
188.    the Maryland Association of Local Management Boards;
199.      the Karabelle Pizzigati Initiative in Advocacy for
20 Children, Youth and Families at the University of Maryland;
2110.   Disability Rights Maryland;
2211.   the State Citizens Review Board for Children;
2312.   the Coalition to Protect Maryland’s Children;
2413.   the Office of the Public Defender;
2514.   the Maryland Youth Justice Coalition; and
2615.   Free State Justice;
  HOUSE BILL 915  3
116.   the Maryland Chapter of the National Association of
2 Pediatric Nurse Practitioners; and
317.    the Social Services Administration’s Emerging Adults
4 Program.
5(c)    The Workgroup shall select a member to serve as chair of the Workgroup.
6(d)   The State Council on Child Abuse and Neglect Citizens Review Board for
7 Children shall provide staff for the Workgroup.
8(e)   (1)   A member of the Workgroup is entitled to reimbursement for expenses
9 under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.
10(2)  The Department of Human Services shall award a one–time stipend of
11 $2,000 to each member of the Workgroup appointed under subsection (b)(5)(i) of this
12 section.
13(f)    The Workgroup shall:
14(1)   identify the types of resources currently available for youth who have
15 aged out of foster care to achieve self–sufficiency, including stable housing, food security,
16 reliable transportation, educational programs, employment, physical and behavioral health
17 care services, disability accommodations, financial resources, and other services to address
18 basic needs;
19(2)   determine the effectiveness of currently available resources, and
20 identify challenges with current services and programs that are offered before a youth ages
21 out of the system and seek to assist youth to successfully transition into adulthood and
22 self–sufficiency;
23(3)   determine the types of resources that youth who have aged out of foster
24 care are most likely to utilize when seeking continuing support, such as adults, peers,
25 financial assistance organizations, and community groups;
26(4)   identify the circumstances under which youth in foster care were
27 removed from the youth’s home county during any period of foster care; and
28(5)   identify programs that have successfully improved outcomes for youth
29 who have aged out of foster care, such as a hotline or an anonymous support line.
30(g)  On or before June 1, 2027, the Workgroup shall submit a report of its findings
31 and recommendations to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State
32 Government Article.
33SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June
34 1, 2026. It shall remain effective for a period of 1 year and 1 month and, at the end of June
4HOUSE BILL 915
1 30, 2027, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be
2 abrogated and of no further force and effect.
    Approved:
    ________________________________________________________________________________
  Governor.
    ________________________________________________________________________________
  Speaker of the House of Delegates.
    ________________________________________________________________________________
  President of the Senate.