Sec. 5. Legislative Youth Advisory Council funding. On July 1, 2005, following expiration of the cooperative agreement between the Legislative Council and the Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service by which the Legislative Council provided funding to the Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service in the amount of $26,300 to be used for the expenses of the Legislative Youth Advisory Council for fiscal years 2003-04 and 2004-05, the Legislature shall provide funding for the expenses of the council.

SUMMARY

This bill implements the recommendations of the Legislative Youth Advisory Council and is submitted pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 168-A, subsection 1, paragraph E. The bill does the following:

1. The bill provides that, if the Department of Human Services and a state ward agree that an extension is needed, the State may provide care and support until the ward reaches 23 years of age. Current law requires that state-supported services to state wards end not later than 21 years of age and, therefore, may impede the completion of postsecondary educational study by those persons;

2. It directs the Department of Human Services, the Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services and the Department of Education to study and report back to the Legislative Youth Advisory Council on ways to increase participation in school activities by students residing with other than the parent or parents;