Amends TCA Title 37 and Title 49.

This bill:<br /> <br /> (1) Requires the department of children's services, working jointly with the Tennessee higher education commission, the board of regents, and public institutions of higher education to establish a foster care youth outreach liaison pilot program at a minimum of five higher education public institutions. The purpose of the liaison will be to serve as a source of information for foster-care youth regarding resources at the institution and a point of contact between the department and the institution regarding such a youth's needs. The liaison may be an employee of the institution. The program will end on June 30, 2024. The department, working with the commission, board, and institutions will establish the scope and duties of the liaisons, evaluate the success of the program, and provide a recommendation of the program for extension or expansion to the education committees of the senate and the house on or before January 1, 2024; and <br /> <br /> (2) Expands what students are eligible for the Tennessee HOPE foster child tuition grant. Generally under present law, the Tennessee HOPE foster child tuition grant is established and funded from net proceeds of the state lottery and awarded to students who were in state custody for at least one year after reaching the age of 14. This bill adds that the grant also applies to students who, after reaching the age of 17, were placed in state custody, permanent guardianship by the department, or for adoption by the department or one of the department's adoption contact agencies. <br />