Colorado § 19-3-705 - Transition hearing.

§ 19-3-705. Transition hearing.

(1) When a youth turns eighteen years of age while the youth is a named child or is a youth in a dependency and neglect case open through this article 3, the court shall hold a transition hearing within thirty-five days after the youth's eighteenth birthday. The purpose of the transition hearing is to determine whether the youth will opt into the foster youth in transition program, established in section 19-7-303, or, alternatively, choose to emancipate.

(2) At least seven days prior to a transition hearing, a county department shall file a report with the court that includes:

(a) A description of the county department's reasonable efforts toward achieving the youth's permanency goals and a successful transition to adulthood;

(b) An affirmation that the county department has provided the youth with all necessary records and documents, including copies of all documents listed in section 19-3-702 (4)(d), health records, education records, and written information concerning the youth's family history and contact information for siblings, if available and appropriate;

(c) An affirmation that the county department has informed the youth, in a developmentally appropriate manner, of the benefits and options available to the youth by participating in the foster youth in transition program created in section 19-7-303 and the voluntary nature of that program; and

(d) A statement of whether the youth has made a preliminary decision whether to emancipate or to enter the foster youth in transition program created in section 19-7-303 and either or both of the following:

(I) If it is anticipated that the youth will choose to emancipate, the report must include a copy of the youth's emancipation transition plan executed pursuant to section 19-7-310, finalized no more than ninety days prior to the youth's transition; or

(II) If it is anticipated that the youth will choose to enter the foster youth in transition program created in section 19-7-303, the county department shall file a petition pursuant to section 19-7-307.

(3) The court shall advise the youth that:

(a) Except as provided in section 19-3-704, the youth has the right to choose whether to emancipate or to voluntarily continue receiving services through the foster youth in transition program created in section 19-7-303;

(b) To participate in the foster youth in transition program created in section 19-7-303, the youth must enter into a voluntary services agreement with the county department. The transition program provides the youth with access to financial support with housing and other services, as outlined in section 19-7-305.

(c) Services provided through the foster youth in transition program created in section 19-7-303 are voluntary for the youth, and the youth may remain in the transition program until the last day of the month in which the youth turns twenty-one years of age, or such greater age of foster care eligibility as required by federal law, so long as the youth meets all other program eligibility requirements pursuant to section 19-7-304;

(d) If the youth chooses to emancipate but later decides support is needed, the youth has the right to begin receiving child welfare services again through the foster youth in transition program, created in section 19-7-303, until the youth's twenty-first birthday or such greater age of foster care eligibility as required by federal law; and

(e) The youth has the right to counsel, who shall represent the youth throughout the youth's participation in the foster youth transition program. The court shall advise the youth that the current emancipation transition hearing may be continued for up to one hundred nineteen days if the youth would like additional time to make a decision or to prepare for emancipation. The court shall ask the youth whether the youth has had sufficient opportunity to consult with counsel and if the youth is ready to make a decision at the current time or, alternatively, if the youth would like to request a continuance of up to one hundred nineteen days.

(4) Prior to a youth emancipating, the court shall:

(a) Review the youth's emancipation transition plan executed pursuant to section 19-7-310 and consult with the youth on readiness for emancipation;

(b) Determine whether the county department has made reasonable efforts toward the youth's permanency goal and a successful transition to adulthood;

(c) Determine whether the youth has been provided with all necessary records and documents described in subsection (2)(b) of this section; and

(d) Determine whether the youth has been enrolled in medicaid and advise the youth on the youth's eligibility for former foster care medicaid up to twenty-six years of age pursuant to section 26-5-113 and of the necessity of keeping the youth's contact information up to date.

(5) With the youth's consent, the court may continue the emancipation transition hearing for up to one hundred nineteen days to allow time to improve the youth's emancipation transition plan, gather necessary documents and records, or for any other reason necessary to allow the youth a successful transition to adulthood.

(6) If a youth is opting into the foster youth in transition program created in section 19-7-303 and a petition has been filed pursuant to section 19-7-307, the court shall dismiss the case pursuant to this article 3 or dismiss the youth from the case brought pursuant to this article 3, leave the case open for remaining siblings, and open a new case brought pursuant to part 3 of article 7 of this title 19. Such an action must not result in an interruption in case management services, housing, medicaid coverage, or in foster care maintenance payments.

Source: L. 2021: Entire section added, (HB 21-1094), ch. 340, p. 2217, § 7, effective June 25. L. 2022: (1) and (5) amended, (HB 22-1245), ch. 88, p. 418, § 5, effective August 10; (3)(e) amended, (HB 22-1038), ch. 92, p. 442, § 27, effective January 9, 2023.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in HB 22-1038, see section 1 of chapter 92, Session Laws of Colorado 2022.

PART 8

TASK FORCE ON THE COLLECTION AND SECURITY OF DIGITAL IMAGES OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT

19-3-801 to 19-3-805. (Repealed)

Editor's note: (1) This part 8 was added in 2016 and was not amended prior to its repeal in 2019. For the text of this part 8 prior to its repeal in 2019, consult the 2018 Colorado Revised Statutes and the Colorado statutory research explanatory note beginning on page vii in the front of this volume.

(2) Section 19-3-805 provided for the repeal of this part 8, effective July 1, 2019. (See L. 2016, p. 1043.)

PART 9

TASK FORCE ON HIGH-QUALITY PARENTING TIME

Editor's note: (1) This part 9 was added in 2021. For amendments to this part 9 prior to its repeal in 2025, consult the 2024 Colorado Revised Statutes and the Colorado statutory research explanatory note beginning on page vii in the front of this volume.

(2) Section 19-3-905 provided for the repeal of this part 9, effective July 1, 2025. (See L. 2023, p. 1685.)

19-3-901 to 19-3-905. (Repealed)

19-3.1 ARTICLE 3.1

Dependency Proceedings for Unaccompanied Children or Youth in Federal Custody

19-3.1-101. Petition for dependency order for unaccompanied children or youth in federal custody - definition.