BILL ANALYSIS SENATE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE Senator Carol Liu, Chair BILL NO: SB 945 S AUTHOR: Liu B VERSION: March 8, 2010 HEARING DATE: April 13, 2010 9 FISCAL: Public Safety; Appropriations 4 5 CONSULTANT: Hailey SUBJECT Juvenile court jurisdiction: services and benefits SUMMARY Requires probation and parole offices to provide notification to a juvenile ward, at the time the court terminates jurisdiction, that he or she is eligible to benefits and services available to other former foster children. ABSTRACT Current law : 1) Provides child welfare services to dependent children and to wards of the court in the event that their natural parents are unable to provide care and supervision. (Cf. Sections 300 et seq., Welfare and Institutions Code, dependent children; Sections 600 et seq., Welfare and Institutions Code, wards.) 2) Provides specific services and benefits to these dependent children and wards of the court upon return to Continued--- STAFF ANALYSIS OF SENATE BILL 945 (Liu) Page 2 their parents or upon their emancipation. This bill : 1) Makes findings and declarations relative to wards of the juvenile court who are also designated as dependents, including the Legislature's intention to reduce the criminal activity of these individuals and to encourage their academic success by ensuring that they are aware of their eligibility for services and benefits available to former foster children. 2) Requires probation officers and parole officers, when the juvenile court terminates jurisdiction of a ward, to provide the youth with both of the following a written notice stating that he or she is a former foster child and may be eligible for the services and benefits available to other former foster children, and information that informs the former ward of the availability of and assistance to apply for federal and state programs that provide independent living services and other benefits to former foster children. FISCAL IMPACT Unknown. BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION Need for the bill The author believes that the bill will result in youth learning about and using supportive services that may mitigate or reduce their current risk of limited academic achievement and of continued encounters with the criminal justice system. Committee philosophy during past decade It has been the general policy of the Senate Human Services Committee and, before that, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, to work with authors to ensure that foster children and former foster children - whether wards or dependents - have access to the same services and STAFF ANALYSIS OF SENATE BILL 945 (Liu) Page 3 benefits. This bill would add a mechanism for a former ward to know what benefits and services he or she may be eligible to receive. Note about double referral The Senate Rules Committee has referred this bill to the Human Services Committee and to the Committee on Public Safety. To meet legislative deadlines, any amendments agreed to in the Human Services Committee should be proposed and adopted in the Public Safety Committee if a motion and a vote move the bill forward. COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS Suggested clarification In its letter of support, the executive committee of the family law section of the state bar suggests a clarifying amendment to 607.5 (b), which is found on page 3, lines 24-27. The letter notes that "not all dependent children are 'former foster children' under the definitions set forth in federal law. To avoid confusion, [we] believe the language should read: 'This section shall apply to any ward who was previously adjudged a dependent child of the court pursuant to Section 300 and placed in foster care, or any ward who at any time has been placed in foster care pursuant to Section 727.'" POSITIONS Support: Children's Advocacy Institute (sponsor) Aspiranet Executive Committee, Family Law Section, State Bar of California Public Counsel Law Center Oppose: None received STAFF ANALYSIS OF SENATE BILL 945 (Liu) Page 4 -- END --