BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  SB 945
                                                                  Page  1


          SENATE THIRD READING
          SB 945 (Liu)
          As Amended  June 24, 2010
          Majority vote 

           SENATE VOTE  :30-0  
           
           HUMAN SERVICES      5-0         APPROPRIATIONS      15-1        
           
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
          |Ayes:|Beall, Tom Berryhill,     |Ayes:|Fuentes, Conway,          |
          |     |Ammiano, Chesbro,         |     |Bradford,                 |
          |     |Portantino                |     |Charles Calderon, Coto,   |
          |     |                          |     |Davis,                    |
          |     |                          |     |De Leon, Gatto, Hall,     |
          |     |                          |     |Harkey, Nielsen, Skinner, |
          |     |                          |     |Solorio, Torlakson,       |
          |     |                          |     |Torrico                   |
          |     |                          |     |                          |
          |-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
          |     |                          |Nays:|Norby                     |
          |     |                          |     |                          |
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 

           SUMMARY  :  Requires probation and parole officers to provide  
          wards of the court formerly in foster care with notification  
          regarding their eligibility for services and benefits available  
          for former foster youth when the court terminates jurisdiction,  
          or upon release of a ward from a non-foster care facility.   
          Specifically,  this bill  :   

          1)Requires that, when the juvenile court terminates jurisdiction  
            and releases a ward from any facility other than a foster care  
            facility, the probation or parole officer must provide the  
            youth with the following:

             a)   A written notice stating the person's status as a former  
               foster youth, and that person's possible eligibility for  
               services and benefits provided by public and private  
               programs, including independent living program (ILP)  
               services; and,

             b)   Information regarding, and assistance with applying for  
               state and federal benefits and services, including ILP  








                                                                  SB 945
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               services the person may be eligible to receive.

          2)Specifies that this section applies to any ward previously  
            adjudged a dependent child pursuant to Welfare and  
            Institutions Code (WIC) Section 300, or a child placed in  
            foster care pursuant to WIC Section 727.

           EXISTING STATE LAW  :

          1)Provides that the juvenile court may establish jurisdiction  
            over an abused or neglected child as a dependent of the  
            juvenile court.  WIC Section 300.

          2)Provides that the juvenile court may adjudge a child who has  
            committed criminal acts, or who is habitually disobedient or  
            truant, a ward of the court.  WIC Sections 601 and 602.

          3)Establishes a process whereby the juvenile court determines  
            the appropriate status designation for a child when he or she  
            appears to come within the description of both ward and  
            dependent status, with an agreed upon recommendation submitted  
            to the juvenile court by the county probation department and  
            child welfare services on which status will serve the best  
            interests of the child and the protection of society. WIC  
            Section 241.1. 

          4)Authorizes the county probation department and child welfare  
            services department in consultation with the juvenile court,  
            to develop protocols for designating a child or youth who is  
            both a ward and dependent of the juvenile court a "dual  
            status" child.  WIC Section 241.1.

           EXISTING FEDERAL LAW  establishes the ILP which allows states to  
          apply for grants to provide assistance to former foster youth 18  
          to 21 years of age with their efforts to achieve  
          self-sufficiency and to prepare them with making a transition  
          from adolescence to adulthood.  42 U.S.C. 677.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  According to the Assembly Appropriations  
          Committee, minimal reimbursable local costs, likely less than  
          $50,000, for the workload associated with probation officers  
          providing wards the required information and assistance. 

           COMMENTS  :   








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           Need for this bill  :  According to the author:

               Unfortunately, a segment of the foster youth  
               population?are unable to access services because they  
               cannot prove their status as a former foster  
               youth?When these children emancipate from the juvenile  
               delinquency court status, rather than from dependency  
               court status, they are effectively denied access to  
               private and non-profit programs designed to assist  
               former foster youth?

          This bill would clarify that probation and parole officers are  
          required to provide wards exiting from a juvenile justice  
          detention facility with documentation of their status as former  
          foster youth, and to inform them about their eligibility for  
          services and benefits available to former foster youth to assist  
          them with their transition to adulthood.   This bill would not  
          change existing eligibility for ILP services or other services  
          provided to former foster youth.

           Support  :  The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office  
          notes that providing foster or former foster youth with  
          paperwork to assist them in obtaining services upon  
          termination of the juvenile court jurisdiction over the  
          ward will help with reducing adult and juvenile recidivism.  
           


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Michelle Doty Cabrera / HUM. S. / (916)  
          319-2089 



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