{Frankfort, Kentucky}...Kentucky Youth Advocates are praising the General Assembly's passage of a handful of key bills aimed at making life better for Kentucky's vulnerable children. Jamie Cotton, a former foster child, pushed for a bill that gives foster children more time to decide whether they want to stay in state care until age 21.
Some of the key victories cited by advocates include:
■ The House and Senate agreed to keep in the state budget an additional $21 million proposed by Gov. Steve Beshear to hire 300 more social workers, about 100 of whom will be assigned to beef up child protection.
■ Approval of House Bill 168, which prohibits superintendents from assigning teachers to alternative schools as punishment. Advocates say that too often, a school district's worst teachers are assigned to alternative schools.
■ Approval of House Concurrent Resolution 129, a measure that creates a juvenile justice task force charged with reforming Kentucky's juvenile criminal code.
■ Approval of Senate Bill 213, which requires state social workers to give foster children specific information and support when they are age 17½ . The bill also gives foster children extra time to decide whether they want to extend their time in the state system until age 21.
