BILL NUMBER: AB 1979	CHAPTERED  08/26/02

	CHAPTER  271
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  AUGUST 26, 2002
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  AUGUST 26, 2002
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 12, 2002
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  MAY 28, 2002
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 16, 2002

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Steinberg
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Aroner, Cardoza, Cohn, Keeley,
Koretz, Longville, Strom-Martin, and Vargas)
   (Coauthors:  Senators Alpert, Bowen, Kuehl, Machado, Ortiz,
Perata, Romero, Scott, and Vasconcellos)

                        FEBRUARY 14, 2002

   An act to amend Section 10609.4 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to human services.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1979, Steinberg.  Independent Living Program.
   Existing federal law establishes the Independent Living Program
for foster youth to be administered by counties with federal and
state funds.
   Existing law requires, on or before July 1, 2000, the State
Department of Social Services, in consultation with county and state
representatives, foster youth, and advocates, to develop statewide
guidelines for the implementation of the federal Independent Living
Program, and define the outcomes for the program and the
characteristics of foster youth enrolled in the program for data
collection purposes.
   This bill would require the department to develop and adopt
emergency regulations, in consultation with specified stakeholders,
that counties shall be required to meet when administering the
Independent Living Program and that are achievable within existing
funding resources.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 10609.4 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
   10609.4.  (a) On or before July 1, 2000, the State Department of
Social Services, in consultation with county and state
representatives, foster youth, and advocates, shall do both of the
following:
   (1) Develop statewide standards for the implementation and
administration of the Independent Living Program established pursuant
to the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of
1985 (Public Law 99-272).
   (2) Define the outcomes for the Independent Living Program and the
characteristics of foster youth enrolled in the program for data
collection purposes.
   (b) Each county department of social services shall include in its
annual Independent Living Program report both of the following:
   (1) An accounting of federal and state funds allocated for
implementation of the program.  Expenditures shall be related to the
specific purposes of the program.  Program purposes may include, but
are not limited to, all of the following:
   (A) Enabling participants to seek a high school diploma or its
equivalent or to take part in appropriate vocational training, and
providing job readiness training and placement services, or building
work experience and marketable skills, or both.
   (B) Providing training in daily living skills, budgeting, locating
and maintaining housing, and career planning.
   (C) Providing for individual and group counseling.
   (D) Integrating and coordinating services otherwise available to
participants.
   (E) Providing each participant with a written transitional
independent living plan that will be based on an assessment of his or
her needs and that will be incorporated into his or her case plan.
   (F) Providing participants with other services and assistance
designed to improve independent living.
   (2) A detail of the characteristics of foster youth enrolled in
their independent living programs and the outcomes achieved based on
the information developed by the department pursuant to subdivision
(a).
   (c) In consultation with the department, a county may use
different methods and strategies to achieve the standards and
outcomes of the Independent Living Program developed pursuant to
subdivision (a).
   (d) In consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association,
the California Youth Connection, and other stakeholders, the
department shall develop and adopt emergency regulations in
accordance with Section 11346.1 of the Government Code that counties
shall be required to meet when administering the Independent Living
Program and that are achievable within existing program resources.
The initial adoption of emergency regulations and one readoption of
the initial regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and
necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health
and safety, or general welfare.  Initial emergency regulations and
the first readoption of those regulations shall be exempt from review
by the Office of Administrative Law.  The initial emergency
regulations and the first readoption of those regulations authorized
by this subdivision shall be submitted to the Office of
Administrative Law for filing with the Secretary of State and each
shall remain in effect for no more than 180 days.