Senate Passes Senator Cortese’s SB 9 to Raise the Age for Extended Foster Care

The State Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed legislation by Senator Dave Cortese to give young people the ability to stay in the extended foster care system for an additional year, from age 21 to age 22. SB 9 would allow youth to extend their access to payment benefits and transitional support services.

“SB 9 creates a wider system of support for youth who are most in need. Extending foster care raises the likelihood that a young person will attend college, earn more money, and stay out of trouble with the law,” said Senator Cortese (D-San Jose). “Let’s give our more vulnerable young people some extra support so they can make progress toward college or a good career.”

Approximately 4,000 youth age out of foster care in California every year, and one fifth of them end up homeless, according to the Children’s Bureau.

In 2020, Senator Cortese led the creation of Santa Clara County’s first-in-the-nation universal basic income program to serve transition age foster youth as they enter adulthood. He also authored SB 739 to provide direct cash assistance to the approximately 2,500 youth aging out of the Extended Foster Care Program in California.  

SB 9 is sponsored by the California Judges Association and passed the Senate on May 30 on a 40-0 vote. The bill now heads to the Assembly.

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