BILL NUMBER: AB 1907	CHAPTERED  07/21/06

	CHAPTER  99
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JULY 21, 2006
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  JULY 21, 2006
	PASSED THE SENATE  JUNE 26, 2006
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  APRIL 17, 2006

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Lieu

                        JANUARY 26, 2006

   An act to amend Section 18951 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to child abuse.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1907, Lieu  Office of Child Abuse Prevention: multidisciplinary
personnel.
   Under existing law, the Office of Child Abuse Prevention is
established in the State Department of Social Services.  The office
is authorized to allocate funding for child abuse treatment and
prevention projects, including multidisciplinary services. Existing
law defines "multidisciplinary personnel" for purposes of child abuse
prevention services as a team of 3 or more persons trained in the
prevention, identification, and treatment of child abuse and neglect
cases and who are qualified to provide a broad range of services
related to child abuse. Under existing law, a multidisciplinary
personnel team may include, among others, psychiatrists,
psychologists, and other trained counseling personnel.
   This bill would revise the definition of multidisciplinary
personnel to include marriage and family therapists.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 18951 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
   18951.  As used in this chapter:
   (a) "Child" means an individual under the age of 18 years.
   (b) "Child services" means services for or on behalf of children,
which shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
   (1) Protective services.
   (2) Caretaker services.
   (3) Day care services, including dropoff care.
   (4) Homemaker services or family aides.
   (5) Counseling services.
   (c) "Adult services" means services for or on behalf of a parent
of a child, which shall include, but not be limited to, the
following:
   (1) Access to voluntary placement, long or short term.
   (2) Counseling services before and after a crisis.
   (3) Homemaker services or family aides.
   (d) "Multidisciplinary personnel" means any team of three or more
persons who are trained in the prevention, identification and
treatment of child abuse and neglect cases and who are qualified to
provide a broad range of services related to child abuse. The team
may include but not be limited to:
   (1) Psychiatrists, psychologists, marriage and family therapists,
or other trained counseling personnel.
   (2) Police officers or other law enforcement agents.
   (3) Medical personnel with sufficient training to provide health
services.
   (4) Social workers with experience or training in child abuse
prevention.
   (5) Any public or private school teacher, administrative officer,
supervisor of child welfare and attendance, or certificated pupil
personnel employee.
   (e) "Child abuse" as used in this chapter means a situation in
which a child suffers from any one or more of the following:
   (1) Serious physical injury inflicted upon the child by other than
accidental means.
   (2) Harm by reason of intentional neglect or malnutrition or
sexual abuse.
   (3) Going without necessary and basic physical care.
   (4) Willful mental injury, negligent treatment, or maltreatment of
a child under the age of 18 years by a person who is responsible for
the child's welfare under circumstances that indicate that the child'
s health or welfare is harmed or threatened thereby, as determined in
accordance with regulations prescribed by the Director of Social
Services.
   (5) Any condition that results in the violation of the rights or
physical, mental, or moral welfare of a child or jeopardizes the
child's present or future health, opportunity for normal development
or capacity for independence.
   (f) "Parent" means any person who exercises care, custody and
control of the child as established by law.