BILL NUMBER: AB 2496	CHAPTERED  07/16/04

	CHAPTER  168
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JULY 16, 2004
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  JULY 15, 2004
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  JULY 1, 2004
	PASSED THE SENATE  JUNE 24, 2004
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 20, 2004

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Shirley Horton

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2004

   An act to add Chapter 5.1 (commencing with Section 16524) to Part
4 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to
child welfare services.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2496, Shirley Horton.  Child Welfare Services Program
Improvement Fund.
   Under existing law, the state, through the State Department of
Social Services and county welfare departments, maintains a public
system of statewide child welfare services, to use the strengths of
families and communities to serve the needs of children who are
alleged to be abused or neglected, to reduce the necessity for
removing these children from their homes, to encourage speedy
reunification of families when it can be safely accomplished, to
locate permanent homes and families for children who cannot return to
their biological families, to reduce the number of placements
experienced by these children, to ensure that children leaving the
foster care system have support within their communities, to improve
the quality and homelike nature of out-of-home care, and to foster
the educational progress of children in out-of-home care.
   This bill would establish the Child Welfare Services Program
Improvement Fund in the State Treasury, consisting of private grants,
gifts, or bequests made to the state.  Upon appropriation by the
Legislature, moneys in the fund would be expended for the purpose of
enhancing the state's ability to provide a comprehensive system of
supports that promote positive outcomes for children and families.
The bill would require the department to use moneys in the fund as a
match to obtain federal participation in the cost of eligible
activities, and to augment federal, state, and county funds made
available for the child welfare services program.  The bill would
include legislative intent regarding possible uses for the funds.


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


  SECTION 1.  Chapter 5.1 (commencing with Section 16524) is added to
Part 4 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:


      CHAPTER 5.1.  CHILD WELFARE SERVICES PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT FUND

   16524.  (a) The Child Welfare Services Program Improvement Fund is
hereby established in the State Treasury.  The fund shall consist of
donated grants, gifts, or bequests made to the state from private
sources, and the moneys in the fund shall be expended, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, to enhance the state's ability to
provide a comprehensive system of supports that promote positive
outcomes for children and families.
   (b) To the extent possible, the department shall use moneys in the
fund as a match to obtain federal participation in the cost of
eligible activities.
   (c) Moneys made available through the Child Welfare Services
Program Improvement Fund shall be used to augment federal, state, or
county funds made available for the child welfare services program.
   (d) It is the intent of the Legislature that moneys in the Child
Welfare Services Program Improvement Fund shall provide for
activities including, but not limited to, the following:
   (1) Providing mandated training statewide for all child welfare
services social workers.
   (2) Standardizing training so that all foster parents and relative
caregivers in the state receive the same level and quality of
training.
   (3) Expediting the implementation of evidence-based practices, as
recommended in the Child Welfare Services (CWS) Redesign.
   (4) Supporting the state's ability to achieve improved outcomes
for children and families consistent with the terms of the State of
California Program Improvement Plan (PIP) for the Child Welfare
Services Program.
   (5) Supporting technical assistance efforts for counties.