There is a particular skill on every teenager's mind; driving. The feeling of freedom and independence gives them reassurance and confidence. However, some teens can achieve the reality of driving in a simpler way than others. Children in foster care currently have a more difficult road to getting a license than their peers.

By passing the bill HB19-1023 in Colorado, foster children will be granted the ability to hold the financial responsibility of the car and license in his or her own name. They will also be exempt from needing a foster parent or other legal guardian to sign an affidavit of liability for their license. This will make it easier on foster families and give the child less restrictions for earning a license.

The bill will positively impact getting a learner's permit as well. The age will be lowered to 17 for no longer needing a guardian's approval to get a driver's permit, as well as driving schools not being required to be liable for the permit. This benefits both the driver and the schools. With the bill, any person who is at least 21 years of age and who holds a driver's license can sign a foster child's driving logs, just like other teens with permits.

With the changes this bill will make, foster children have one less obstacle to overcome before growing to be confident, happy members of our community in Colorado. Giving them less restrictions will benefit the families that took them in, the businesses teaching young drivers, and certainly the efficiency of the DMV. We all want that right?