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Senate Panel Passes Bill to Help Foster Kids Drive

WGCU | By Margie Menzel
Published February 19, 2014 at 9:51 AM EST
State Farm via Flickr

A bill that would give teens in foster care better access to a driver's license passed its first Senate panel on Tuesday. It's the latest measure by state Senator Nancy Detert aimed at keeping foster kids from falling behind their peers.

Mostly due to liability issues, Detert says, only 2% of foster children leave the system as adults knowing how to drive a car.

"And we all know in today's world and in Florida how important it is to have a vehicle in order to go to work and be a productive citizen", Detert said.

The bill would establish a three-year pilot program to pay for driver's education, a license and auto insurance for qualified foster children. It would cover the costs for foster parents to add their kids to their own motor-vehicle coverage.
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Government & Politics LegislationFoster CareAutomobilesGovernmentLocal
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