BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 295
                                                                  Page  1

          CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
          AB 295 (Ammiano)
          As Amended  September 4, 2009
          Majority vote
           
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          |ASSEMBLY:  |78-0 |(June 2, 2009)  |SENATE: |39-0 |(September 10, |
          |           |     |                |        |     |2009)          |
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           Original Committee Reference:    HUM. S.  

           SUMMARY  :  Extends the availability of funds for a specified  
          preadoption and postadoption services project until June 30,  
          2010, and changes to May 31, 2011, the date that information on  
          the results of the project must be provided to the Legislature  
          by the Department of Social Services (DSS).

           The Senate amendments  delete the provisions of the Assembly  
          version of this bill as summarized in paragraphs 2) -7) below,  
          except the provisions that extend the availability of funds for  
          the preadoption and postadoption services project until June 30,  
          2010, and change to May 31, 2011, the date that information on  
          the results of the project must be provided to the Legislature  
          DSS.

           AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY  , this bill:  

          1)Extended the availability of funds for a specified preadoption  
            and postadoption services project until June 30, 2010, and  
            changed to May 31, 2011, the date that information on the  
            results of the project must be provided to the Legislature by  
            DSS.

          2)Removed "pilot project" status for wrap-around services.

          3)Struck all references to the provision of wrap-around services  
            as "pilot projects," and replaced them with the designation of  
            "wrap-around services program."

          4)Made changes in the evaluation required of each county's  
            wrap-around services program, adding cost-effectiveness,  
            stability in the least restrictive school placement, and  
            applicable indicators from the state's child and family  
            service review system, such as safety, permanency, and child  








                                                                  AB 295
                                                                  Page  2

            well-being in the evaluation of the wrap-around services  
            program.

          5)Provided that a child who is categorically eligible for  
            Medi-Cal benefits with no share of cost based on the receipt  
            of Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care  
            (AFDC-FC) or Adoption Assistance benefits remained eligible  
            for Medi-Cal for the time specified in the child's  
            individualized services plan.

          6)Provided that placement of a child in his or her parental home  
            is not a change in foster care status for purposes of Medi-Cal  
            eligibility for the duration of the child's individualized  
            services plan and that Medi-Cal eligibility shall not be  
            redetermined when the child is returned to the parental home  
            based on his or her individualized services plan.

          7)Provided that a child who reaches 16 years of age while  
            receiving wrap-around services shall be eligible to request  
            and receive independent living services.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  According to the Assembly Appropriations  
          Committee, estimates suggest that at as of December 31, 2009,  
          $1.3 million in General Fund (GF) will remain unspent in the  
          adoption services pilot project.  Without the extension of the  
          project those funds could be returned to the GF.

           COMMENTS  :  The Senate amendments narrow the scope of this bill  
          by deleting all Assembly-approved provisions related to  
          wrap-around services, as summarized in paragraph 2) -7), above.   
          The amendments leave in tact the Assembly-approved provisions  
          extending the availability of funds for preadoption and  
          postadoption services for one year, and extending the due date  
          for a report on the project for six months.


           
          Analysis Prepared by  :    Eric Gelber / HUM. S. / (916) 319-2089 


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