BILL NUMBER: AB 333	CHAPTERED  10/10/01

	CHAPTER  675
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  OCTOBER 10, 2001
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  OCTOBER 10, 2001
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 13, 2001
	PASSED THE SENATE  SEPTEMBER 10, 2001
	AMENDED IN SENATE  SEPTEMBER 6, 2001
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 30, 2001

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Wright

                        FEBRUARY 16, 2001

   An act to amend Section 16516.5 of, and to add Section 16516.6 to,
the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to foster care.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 333, Wright.  Foster care.
   Existing law requires all foster children placed in group homes by
county welfare departments or county probation departments to be
visited at least monthly by a county social worker or probation
officer.
   This bill would require each of those visits to include a private
discussion between the foster child and the county social worker or
probation officer.  The bill would prohibit the contents of the
discussion from being disclosed to the group home staff, except under
specified circumstances.  The bill would extend similar provisions
to visits by county social workers or probation officers to foster
children in licensed, certified, or approved foster homes.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 16516.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
   16516.5.  (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or
regulation, all foster children placed in group homes by county
welfare departments or county probation departments shall be visited
at least monthly by a county social worker or probation officer.
Each visit shall include a private discussion between the foster
child and the county social worker or probation officer.  The
discussion shall not be held in the presence or immediate vicinity of
the group home staff.  The contents of the private discussion shall
not be disclosed to the group home staff, except that the social
worker or probation officer may disclose information under any of the
following circumstances:
   (1) The social worker or probation officer believes that the
foster child may be in danger of harming himself or herself, or
others.
   (2) The social worker or probation officer believes that
disclosure is necessary to meet the needs of the child.
   (3) The child consents to disclosure of the information.
   (b) Notwithstanding Section 10101, the state shall pay 100 percent
of the nonfederal costs associated with the monthly visitation
requirement in subdivision (a) in excess of the minimum semiannual
visits required under current regulations.
  SEC. 2.  Section 16516.6 is added to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, to read:
   16516.6.  When a county social worker or probation officer makes a
regular visit with a child in any licensed, certified, or approved
foster home, the visit shall include a private discussion between the
foster child and the social worker or probation officer.  The
discussion shall not be held in the presence or immediate vicinity of
the foster parent or caregiver.  The contents of the private
discussion shall not be disclosed to the foster parent or caregiver,
except that the social worker or probation officer may disclose
information under any of the following circumstances:
   (a) The social worker or probation officer believes that the
foster child may be in danger of harming himself or herself, or
others.
   (b) The social worker or probation officer believes that
disclosure is necessary to meet the needs of the child.
   (c) The child consents to disclosure of the information.