BILL NUMBER: AB 1909	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 6, 2012
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 13, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 16, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 29, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members Ammiano and Brownley
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Chesbro and Wieckowski)
   (Coauthor: Senator Vargas)

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2012

   An act to amend Sections 48853.5, 48911, and 48915.5 of, and to
add Section 48918.1 to, the Education Code, and to amend Sections 317
 and   ,  16010  , and 16010.5 
of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to foster children.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1909, as amended, Ammiano. Foster children: placement:
suspension and expulsion: notifications.
   (1) Existing law requires each local educational agency to
designate a staff person as the educational liaison for foster
children, as defined. Existing law requires the educational liaison
to ensure and facilitate the proper educational placement, enrollment
in school, and checkout from school of foster children, and to
assist foster children when transferring from one school to another
school or from one school district to another school district in
ensuring the proper transfer of credits, records, and grades.
   This bill would require the educational liaison, if designated by
the superintendent of the local educational agency, to notify the
foster child's attorney and the appropriate representative of the
county child welfare agency of pending expulsion proceedings, pending
proceedings to extend a suspension until an expulsion decision is
rendered, and, if the foster child is an individual with exceptional
needs, pending manifestation determinations. 
   This bill would authorize the foster child's caregiver or other
person holding the right to make educational decisions for the child
to provide the contact information of the child's attorney to the
child's school district when the child has been placed outside of the
county of jurisdiction for the child. 
   (2) Existing law authorizes the district superintendent of schools
 ,  or other person designated by the district
superintendent of schools in writing  ,  to extend the
suspension of a pupil until the governing board of the school
district has rendered a decision in a case where expulsion from any
school or suspension from the balance of the semester from
continuation school is being processed by the governing board of the
school district. Existing law requires that before such an extension
is granted that the district superintendent of schools or the
district superintendent's designee determine, following a meeting in
which the pupil and the pupil's parent or guardian are invited to
participate, that the presence of the pupil at the school or in an
alternative school placement would cause a danger to persons or
property or a threat of disrupting the instructional process.
   This bill would require, if the pupil is a foster child, as
defined, the district superintendent of schools or the district
superintendent's designee to invite the pupil's attorney and the
appropriate representative of the county child welfare agency to that
meeting.
   (3) Existing law authorizes the suspension or expulsion of an
individual with exceptional needs in accordance with specified
provisions.
   This bill would require, if the individual with exceptional needs
is a foster child, as defined, the attorney for the individual with
exceptional needs and the appropriate representative of the county
child welfare agency to be invited to participate in the
individualized education program team meeting that makes a
manifestation determination.
   (4) Existing law requires the governing board of each school
district to establish rules and regulations governing procedures for
the expulsion of pupils and requires these procedures to include, but
not necessarily be limited to, a hearing to determine whether the
pupil should be expelled, and a written notice of the hearing
forwarded to the pupil at least 10 calendar days prior to the date of
the hearing.
   This bill would require, if the decision to recommend expulsion is
a discretionary act and the pupil is a foster child, as defined, the
governing board of the school district also to provide notice of the
hearing to the pupil's attorney and an appropriate representative of
the county child welfare agency at least 10 calendar days before the
date of the hearing. The bill would authorize, if a recommendation
of expulsion is required and the pupil is a foster child, the
governing board of the school district also to provide the notice of
the hearing to the pupil's attorney and an appropriate representative
of the county child welfare agency at least 10 calendar days before
the date of the hearing.
   (5) Existing law requires a juvenile court to hold a detention
hearing to determine whether a minor should be further detained when
a minor has been taken into custody pursuant to specified provisions.
Existing law also requires a court to appoint counsel for the child
if the child is not represented by counsel, unless the court finds
that the child would not benefit from the appointment of counsel.
Existing law requires counsel appointed for the child to be charged
in general with the representation of the child's interests.
   This bill would, at least once every year and if the list of
educational liaisons is available on the Internet Web site of the
State Department of Education, (A) require counsel appointed for the
child to provide his or her contact information to the educational
liaison of each local educational agency serving counsel's foster
child clients in the county of jurisdiction, and (B) encourage
counsel to provide his or her contact information to each local
educational agency serving counsel's foster child clients in counties
other than the county of jurisdiction. The bill would, if counsel is
part of a firm or organization, authorize the firm or organization
to provide its contact information in lieu of contact information for
the individual counsel.
   (6) Existing law requires, when a child is placed in foster care,
the case plan for each child to include a summary of the health and
education information or records of the child. Existing law requires
the health and education summary to include, but not be limited to,
among other things, the names and addresses of the child's health,
dental, and education providers.
   This bill would authorize the health and education summary also to
include the name and address of the educational liaison of the child'
s local educational agency.
   (7) This bill would also make various nonsubstantive changes to
the above provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

   SECTION 1.    It is the intent of the Legislature
that, for purposes of implementing this act, the notification of, and
invitation to, a parent or guardian for meetings and hearings
related to the discipline of the pupil also be provided to a person
who holds the right to make educational decisions for a foster child
pursuant to Section 361 or 726 of the Welfare and Institutions Code
if the rights to make educational decisions by the parent or guardian
have been limited or terminated. 
   SECTION 1.   SEC. 2.   Section 48853.5
of the Education Code is amended to read:
   48853.5.  (a) This section applies to a child who has been removed
from his or her home pursuant to Section 309 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code, is the subject of a petition filed under Section
300 or 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or has been removed
from his or her home and is the subject of a petition filed under
Section 300 or 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code (hereafter
"foster child").
   (b) Each local educational agency shall designate a staff person
as the educational liaison for foster children. In a school district
that operates a foster children services program pursuant to Chapter
11.3 (commencing with Section 42920) of Part 24, the educational
liaison shall be affiliated with the local foster children services
program. The educational liaison shall do all of the following:
   (1) Ensure and facilitate the proper educational placement,
enrollment in school, and checkout from school of foster children.
   (2) Assist foster children when transferring from one school to
another school or from one school district to another school district
in ensuring proper transfer of credits, records, and grades.
   (c) If so designated by the superintendent of the local
educational agency, the educational liaison shall notify a foster
child's attorney and the appropriate representative of the county
child welfare agency, of pending expulsion proceedings, pending
proceedings to extend a suspension until an expulsion decision is
rendered, and, if the foster child is an individual with exceptional
needs, pending manifestation determinations pursuant to Section 1415
(k) of Title 20 of the United States Code.
   (d) This section does not grant authority to the educational
liaison that supersedes the authority granted under state and federal
law to a parent or guardian retaining educational rights, a
responsible adult appointed by the court to represent the child
pursuant to Section 361 or 726 of the Welfare and Institutions Code,
a surrogate parent, or a foster parent exercising the authority
granted under Section 56055. The role of the educational liaison is
advisory with respect to placement decisions and determination of
school of origin.
   (e) (1) At the initial detention or placement, or any subsequent
change in placement of a foster child, the local educational agency
serving the foster child shall allow the foster child to continue his
or her education in the school of origin for the duration of the
jurisdiction of the court.
   (2) If the jurisdiction of the court is terminated before the end
of an academic year, the foster child shall be allowed to continue
his or her education in the school of origin through the duration of
the academic school year.
   (3) To ensure that the foster child has the benefit of
matriculating with his or her peers in accordance with the
established feeder patterns of school districts, if the foster child
is transitioning between school grade levels, the local educational
agency shall allow the foster child to continue in the school
district of origin in the same attendance area, or, if the foster
child is transitioning to a middle school or high school, and the
school designated for matriculation is in another school district, to
the school designated for matriculation in that school district.
   (4) Paragraphs (2) and (3) shall not be construed to require a
school district to provide transportation services to allow a foster
child to attend a school or school district, unless otherwise
required under federal law, nor shall this paragraph be construed to
prohibit a school district from, at its discretion, providing
transportation services to allow a foster child to attend a school or
school district.
   (5) The educational liaison, in consultation with  ,  and
with the agreement of  ,  the foster child and the person
holding the right to make educational decisions for the foster child,
may, in accordance with the foster child's best interests, recommend
that the foster child's right to attend the school of origin be
waived and the foster child be enrolled in a public school that
pupils living in the attendance area in which the foster child
resides are eligible to attend.
   (6) Before making a recommendation to move a foster child from his
or her school of origin, the educational liaison shall provide the
foster child and the person holding the right to make educational
decisions for the foster child with a written explanation stating the
basis for the recommendation and how this recommendation serves the
foster child's best interest.
   (7) (A) If the educational liaison, in consultation with the
foster child and the person holding the right to make educational
decisions for the foster child, agrees that the best interests of the
foster child would best be served by his or her transfer to a school
other than the school of origin, the foster child shall immediately
be enrolled in the new school.
   (B) The new school shall immediately enroll the foster child even
if the foster child has outstanding fees, fines, textbooks, or other
items or moneys due to the school last attended or is unable to
produce clothing or records normally required for enrollment, such as
previous academic records and medical records, including, but not
limited to, records or other proof of immunization history pursuant
to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 120325) of Part 2 of Division
105 of the Health and Safety Code, proof of residency, other
documentation, or school uniforms.
   (C) The educational liaison for the new school shall, within two
business days of the foster child's request for enrollment, contact
the school last attended by the foster child to obtain all academic
and other records. All required records shall be provided to the new
school regardless of any outstanding fees, fines, textbooks, or other
items or moneys owed to the school last attended. The educational
liaison for the school last attended shall provide all records to the
new school within two business days of receiving the request.
   (8) If a dispute arises regarding the request of a foster child to
remain in the school of origin, the foster child has the right to
remain in the school of origin pending resolution of the dispute. The
dispute shall be resolved in accordance with the existing dispute
resolution process available to a pupil served by the local
educational agency.
   (9) The local educational agency and the county placing agency are
encouraged to collaborate to ensure maximum use of available federal
moneys, explore public-private partnerships, and access any other
funding sources to promote the well-being of foster children through
educational stability.
   (10) It is the intent of the Legislature that this subdivision
shall not supersede or exceed other laws governing special education
services for eligible foster children.
   (f) For purposes of this section, "school of origin" means the
school that the foster child attended when permanently housed or the
school in which the foster child was last enrolled. If the school the
foster child attended when permanently housed is different from the
school in which the foster child was last enrolled, or if there is
some other school that the foster child attended with which the
foster child is connected and that the foster child attended within
the immediately preceding 15 months, the educational liaison, in
consultation with, and with the agreement of, the foster child and
the person holding the right to make educational decisions for the
foster child, shall determine, in the best interests of the foster
child, the school that shall be deemed the school of origin.
   (g) This section does not supersede other law governing the
educational placements in juvenile court schools, as described in
Section 48645.1, by the juvenile court under Section 602 of the
Welfare and Institutions Code.
   SEC. 2.   SEC. 3.   Section 48911 of the
Education Code is amended to read:
   48911.  (a) The principal of the school, the principal's designee,
or the district superintendent of schools may suspend a pupil from
the school for any of the reasons enumerated in Section 48900, and
pursuant to Section 48900.5, for no more than five consecutive
schooldays.
   (b) Suspension by the principal, the principal's designee, or the
district superintendent of schools shall be preceded by an informal
conference conducted by the principal, the principal's designee, or
the district superintendent of schools between the pupil and,
whenever practicable, the teacher, supervisor, or school employee who
referred the pupil to the principal, the principal's designee, or
the district superintendent of schools. At the conference, the pupil
shall be informed of the reason for the disciplinary action and the
evidence against him or her and shall be given the opportunity to
present his or her version and evidence in his or her defense.
   (c) A principal, the principal's designee, or the district
superintendent of schools may suspend a pupil without affording the
pupil an opportunity for a conference only if the principal, the
principal's designee, or the district superintendent of schools
determines that an emergency situation exists. "Emergency situation,"
as used in this article, means a situation determined by the
principal, the principal's designee, or the district superintendent
of schools to constitute a clear and present danger to the life,
safety, or health of pupils or school personnel. If a pupil is
suspended without a conference before suspension, both the parent and
the pupil shall be notified of the pupil's right to a conference and
the pupil's right to return to school for the purpose of a
conference. The conference shall be held within two schooldays,
unless the pupil waives this right or is physically unable to attend
for any reason, including, but not limited to, incarceration or
hospitalization. The conference shall then be held as soon as the
pupil is physically able to return to school for the conference.
   (d) At the time of suspension, a school employee shall make a
reasonable effort to contact the pupil's parent or guardian in person
or by telephone. If a pupil is suspended from school, the parent or
guardian shall be notified in writing of the suspension.
   (e) A school employee shall report the suspension of the pupil,
including the cause for the suspension, to the governing board of the
school district or to the district superintendent of schools in
accordance with the regulations of the governing board of the school
district.
   (f) The parent or guardian of a pupil shall respond without delay
to a request from school officials to attend a conference regarding
his or her child's behavior.
   No penalties shall be imposed on a pupil for failure of the pupil'
s parent or guardian to attend a conference with school officials.
Reinstatement of the suspended pupil shall not be contingent upon
attendance by the pupil's parent or guardian at the conference.
   (g) In a case where expulsion from a school or suspension for the
balance of the semester from continuation school is being processed
by the governing board of the school district, the district
superintendent of schools  ,  or other person designated by
the district superintendent of schools in writing  ,  may
extend the suspension until the governing board of the school
district has rendered a decision in the action. However, an extension
may be granted only if the district superintendent of schools or the
district superintendent's designee has determined, following a
meeting in which the pupil and the pupil's parent or guardian are
invited to participate, that the presence of the pupil at the school
or in an alternative school placement would cause a danger to persons
or property or a threat of disrupting the instructional process. If
the pupil is a foster child, as defined in Section 48853.5, the
district superintendent of schools or the district superintendent's
designee, including, but not limited to, the educational liaison for
the school district, shall also invite the pupil's attorney and an
appropriate representative of the county child welfare agency to
participate in the meeting. If the pupil or the pupil's parent or
guardian has requested a meeting to challenge the original suspension
pursuant to Section 48914, the purpose of the meeting shall be to
decide upon the extension of the suspension order under this section
and may be held in conjunction with the initial meeting on the merits
of the suspension.
   (h) For purposes of this section, a "principal's designee" is one
or more administrators at the schoolsite specifically designated by
the principal, in writing, to assist with disciplinary procedures.
   In the event that there is not an administrator in addition to the
principal at the schoolsite, a certificated person at the schoolsite
may be specifically designated by the principal, in writing, as a
"principal's designee," to assist with disciplinary procedures. The
principal may designate only one person at a time as the principal's
primary designee for the school year.
   An additional person meeting the requirements of this subdivision
may be designated by the principal, in writing, to act for 
the  purposes of this article when both the principal and
the principal's primary designee are absent from the schoolsite. The
name of the person, and the names of any person or persons designated
as "principal's designee," shall be on file in the principal's
office.
   This section is not an exception to, nor does it place any
limitation on, Section 48903.
   SEC. 3.   SEC. 4.   Section 48915.5 of
the Education Code is amended to read:
   48915.5.  (a) An individual with exceptional needs, as defined in
Section 56026, may be suspended or expelled from school in accordance
with Section 1415(k) of Title 20 of the United States Code, the
discipline provisions contained in Sections 300.530 to 300.537,
inclusive, of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and other
provisions of this part that do not conflict with federal law and
regulations.
   (b) A free appropriate public education for individuals with
exceptional needs suspended or expelled from school shall be in
accordance with Section 1412(a)(1) of Title 20 of the United States
Code and Section 300.530(d) of Title 34 of the Code of Federal
Regulations.
   (c) If an individual with exceptional needs is excluded from
schoolbus transportation, the pupil is entitled to be provided with
an alternative form of transportation at no cost to the pupil or
parent or guardian provided that transportation is specified in the
pupil's individualized education program.
   (d) If the individual with exceptional needs is a foster child, as
defined in Section 48853.5, the attorney for the individual with
exceptional needs and an appropriate representative of the county
child welfare agency shall be invited to participate in the
individualized education program team meeting that makes a
manifestation determination pursuant to Section 1415(k) of Title 20
of the United States Code.
   SEC. 4.   SEC. 5.   Section 48918.1 is
added to the Education Code, to read:
   48918.1.  (a) If the decision to recommend expulsion is a
discretionary act and the pupil is a foster child, as defined in
Section 48853.5, the governing board of the school district shall
provide written notice of the expulsion hearing to the pupil's
attorney and an appropriate representative of the county child
welfare agency at least 10 calendar days before the date of the
hearing.
   (b) If a recommendation of expulsion is required and the pupil is
a foster child, as defined in Section 48853.5, the governing board of
the school district may provide written notice of the expulsion
hearing to the pupil's attorney and an appropriate representative of
the county child welfare agency at least 10 calendar days before the
date of the hearing.
   SEC. 5.   SEC. 6.   Section 317 of the
Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:
   317.  (a) (1) When it appears to the court that a parent or
guardian of the child desires counsel but is presently financially
unable to afford and cannot for that reason employ counsel, the court
may appoint counsel as provided in this section.
   (2) When it appears to the court that a parent or Indian custodian
in an Indian child custody proceeding desires counsel but is
presently unable to afford and cannot for that reason employ counsel,
the provisions of Section 1912(b) of Title 25 of the United States
Code and Section 23.13 of Title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations
 are applicable  shall apply  .
   (b) When it appears to the court that a parent or guardian of the
child is presently financially unable to afford and cannot for that
reason employ counsel, and the child has been placed in out-of-home
care, or the petitioning agency is recommending that the child be
placed in out-of-home care, the court shall appoint counsel for the
parent or guardian, unless the court finds that the parent or
guardian has made a knowing and intelligent waiver of counsel as
provided in this section.
   (c) If a child is not represented by counsel, the court shall
appoint counsel for the child, unless the court finds that the child
would not benefit from the appointment of counsel. The court shall
state on the record its reasons for that finding. A primary
responsibility of counsel appointed to represent a child pursuant to
this section shall be to advocate for the protection, safety, and
physical and emotional well-being of the child. Counsel may be a
district attorney, public defender, or other member of the bar,
provided that he or she does not represent another party or county
agency whose interests conflict with the child's interests. The fact
that the district attorney represents the child in a proceeding
pursuant to Section 300 as well as conducts a criminal investigation
or files a criminal complaint or information arising from the same or
reasonably related set of facts as the proceeding pursuant to
Section 300 is not in and of itself a conflict of interest. The court
may fix the compensation for the services of appointed counsel. The
appointed counsel shall have a caseload and training that ensures
adequate representation of the child. The Judicial Council shall
promulgate rules of court that establish caseload standards, training
requirements, and guidelines for appointed counsel for children and
shall adopt rules as required by Section 326.5 no later than July 1,
2001.
   (d) Counsel shall represent the parent, guardian, or child at the
detention hearing and at all subsequent proceedings before the
juvenile court. Counsel shall continue to represent the parent,
guardian, or child unless relieved by the court upon the substitution
of other counsel or for cause. The representation shall include
representing the parent, guardian, or the child in termination
proceedings and in those proceedings relating to the institution or
setting aside of a legal guardianship. On and after January 1, 2012,
in the case of a nonminor dependent, as described in subdivision (v)
of Section 11400, no representation by counsel shall be provided for
a parent.
   (e) (1) Counsel shall be charged in general with the
representation of the child's interests. To that end, counsel shall
make or cause to have made any further investigations that he or she
deems in good faith to be reasonably necessary to ascertain the
facts, including the interviewing of witnesses, and shall examine and
cross-examine witnesses in both the adjudicatory and dispositional
hearings. Counsel may also introduce and examine his or her own
witnesses, make recommendations to the court concerning the child's
welfare, and participate further in the proceedings to the degree
necessary to adequately represent the child.
   (2) If the child is four years of age or older, counsel shall
interview the child to determine the child's wishes and assess the
child's well-being, and shall advise the court of the child's wishes.
Counsel shall not advocate for the return of the child if, to the
best of his or her knowledge, return of the child conflicts with the
protection and safety of the child.
   (3) Counsel shall investigate the interests of the child beyond
the scope of the juvenile proceeding, and report to the court other
interests of the child that may need to be protected by the
institution of other administrative or judicial proceedings. Counsel
representing a child in a dependency proceeding is not required to
assume the responsibilities of a social worker, and is not expected
to provide nonlegal services to the child.
   (4) (A) At least once every year, if the list of educational
liaisons is available on the Internet Web site for the State
Department of  Education: 
    (i)     Counsel
  Education counsel  shall provide his or her
contact information to the educational liaison, as described in
subdivision (b) of Section 48853.5 of the Education Code, of each
local educational agency serving counsel's foster child clients in
the county of jurisdiction. 
   (ii) Counsel is encouraged to provide his or her contact
information to the educational liaison, as described in subdivision
(b) of Section 48853.5 of the Education Code, of each local
educational agency serving counsel's foster child clients in a county
other than the county of jurisdiction. 
   (B) If counsel is part of a firm or organization representing
foster children, the firm or organization may provide its contact
information in lieu of contact information for the individual
counsel. The firm or organization may designate a person or persons
within the firm or organization to receive communications from
educational liaisons.
   (C) Counsel for the child and counsel's agent may, but are not
required to, disclose to an individual who is being assessed for the
possibility of placement pursuant to Section 361.3 the fact that the
child is in custody, the alleged reasons that the child is in
custody, and the projected likely date for the child's return home,
placement for adoption, or legal guardianship. Nothing in this
paragraph shall be construed to prohibit counsel from making other
disclosures pursuant to this subdivision, as appropriate.
   (5) Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to permit
counsel to violate a child's attorney-client privilege.
   (6) The changes made to this subdivision during the 2011-12
Regular Session of the Legislature by the act adding 
paragraphs   subparagraph (C) of paragraph  (4) and
 paragraph  (5) are declaratory of existing law.
   (7) The court shall take whatever appropriate action is necessary
to fully protect the interests of the child.
   (f) Either the child or counsel for the child, with the informed
consent of the child if the child is found by the court to be of
sufficient age and maturity to consent, which shall be presumed,
subject to rebuttal by clear and convincing evidence, if the child is
over 12 years of age, may invoke the psychotherapist-client
privilege, physician-patient privilege, and clergyman-penitent
privilege. If the child invokes the privilege, counsel may not waive
it, but if counsel invokes the privilege, the child may waive it.
Counsel shall be the holder of these privileges if the child is found
by the court not to be of sufficient age and maturity to consent.
For the sole purpose of fulfilling his or her obligation to provide
legal representation of the child, counsel shall have access to all
records with regard to the child maintained by a health care
facility, as defined in Section 1545 of the Penal Code, health care
providers, as defined in Section 6146 of the Business and Professions
Code, a physician and surgeon or other health practitioner, as
defined in former Section 11165.8 of the Penal Code, as that section
read on January 1, 2000, or a child care custodian, as defined in
former Section 11165.7 of the Penal Code, as that section read on
January 1, 2000. Notwithstanding any other law, counsel shall be
given access to all records relevant to the case that are maintained
by state or local public agencies. All information requested from a
child protective agency regarding a child who is in protective
custody, or from a child's guardian ad litem, shall be provided to
the child's counsel within 30 days of the request.
   (g) In a county of the third class, if counsel is to be provided
to a child at the county's expense other than by counsel for the
agency, the court shall first use the services of the public defender
before appointing private counsel. Nothing in this subdivision shall
be construed to require the appointment of the public defender in
any case in which the public defender has a conflict of interest. In
the interest of justice, a court may depart from that portion of the
procedure requiring appointment of the public defender after making a
finding of good cause and stating the reasons therefor on the
record.
   (h) In a county of the third class, if counsel is to be appointed
to provide legal counsel for a parent or guardian at the county's
expense, the court shall first use the services of the alternate
public defender before appointing private counsel. Nothing in this
subdivision shall be construed to require the appointment of the
alternate public defender in any case in which the public defender
has a conflict of interest. In the interest of justice, a court may
depart from that portion of the procedure requiring appointment of
the alternate public defender after making a finding of good cause
and stating the reasons therefor on the record.
   SEC. 6.   SEC. 7.   Section 16010 of the
Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:
   16010.  (a) When a child is placed in foster care, the case plan
for each child recommended pursuant to Section 358.1 shall include a
summary of the health and education information or records, including
mental health information or records, of the child. The summary may
be maintained in the form of a health and education passport, or a
comparable format designed by the child protective agency. The health
and education summary shall include,
            but not be limited to, the names and addresses of the
child's health, dental, and education providers; the child's grade
level performance; the child's school record; assurances that the
child's placement in foster care takes into account proximity to the
school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement; the
number of school transfers the child has already experienced; the
child's educational progress, as demonstrated by factors, including,
but not limited to, academic proficiency scores; credits earned
toward graduation; a record of the child's immunizations and
allergies; the child's known medical problems; the child's current
medications, past health problems, and hospitalizations; a record of
the child's relevant mental health history; the child's known mental
health condition and medications; and any other relevant mental
health, dental, health, and education information concerning the
child determined to be appropriate by the Director of Social
Services. The health and education summary may also include the name
and contact information for the educational liaison, as described in
subdivision (b) of Section 48853.5 of the Education Code, of the
child's local educational agency. If any other law imposes more
stringent information requirements, then that section shall prevail.
   (b) Additionally, a court report or assessment required pursuant
to subdivision (g) of Section 361.5, Section 366.1, subdivision (d)
of Section 366.21, or subdivision (c) of Section 366.22 shall include
a copy of the current health and education summary described in
subdivision (a).
   (c) As soon as possible, but not later than 30 days after initial
placement of a child into foster care, the child protective agency
shall provide the caretaker with the child's current health and
education summary as described in subdivision (a). For each
subsequent placement, the child protective agency shall provide the
caretaker with a current summary as described in subdivision (a)
within 48 hours of the placement.
   (d) (1) Notwithstanding Section 827 or any other law, the child
protective agency may disclose any information described in this
section to a prospective caretaker or caretakers prior to placement
of a child if all of the following requirements are met:
   (A) The child protective agency intends to place the child with
the prospective caretaker or caretakers.
   (B) The prospective caretaker or caretakers are willing to become
the adoptive parent or parents of the child.
   (C) The prospective caretaker or caretakers have an approved
adoption assessment or home study, a foster family home license,
certification by a licensed foster family agency, or approval
pursuant to the requirements in Sections 361.3 and 361.4.
   (2) In addition to the information required to be provided under
this section, the child protective agency may disclose to the
prospective caretaker specified in paragraph (1), placement history
or underlying source documents that are provided to adoptive parents
pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 8706 of the Family
Code.
   (e) The child's caretaker shall be responsible for obtaining and
maintaining accurate and thorough information from physicians and
educators for the child's summary as described in subdivision (a)
during the time that the child is in the care of the caretaker. On
each required visit, the child protective agency or its designee
family foster agency shall inquire of the caretaker whether there is
any new information that should be added to the child's summary as
described in subdivision (a). The child protective agency shall
update the summary with the information as appropriate, but not later
than the next court date or within 48 hours of a change in
placement. The child protective agency or its designee family foster
agency shall take all necessary steps to assist the caretaker in
obtaining relevant health and education information for the child's
health and education summary as described in subdivision (a).
   (f) At the initial hearing, the court shall direct each parent to
provide to the child protective agency complete medical, dental,
mental health, and educational information, and medical background,
of the child and of the child's mother and the child's biological
father if known. The Judicial Council shall create a form for the
purpose of obtaining health and education information from the child'
s parents or guardians at the initial hearing. The court shall
determine at the hearing held pursuant to Section 358 whether the
medical, dental, mental health, and educational information has been
provided to the child protective agency.
   SEC. 8.    Section 16010.5 of the   Welfare
and Institutions Code   is amended to read: 
   16010.5.  (a) When initially placing a child into foster care or
kinship care, and within 48 hours of any subsequent placement of that
child, the placing agency shall provide to the child's caretaker
both of the following:
   (1) Prescribed medications for the child that are in the
possession of the placing agency, with instructions for the use of
the medication.
   (2) Information regarding any treatments that are known to the
placing agency and that are in effect for the child at the time of
the placement.
   (b) As soon as possible after placing a child into foster care or
kinship care, and no later than 30 days after placing the child, the
placing agency shall provide to the child's caregiver any available
documentation or proof of the child's age that may be required for
enrollment in school or activities that require proof of age.
   (c) Within 30 days of receiving a copy of a child's birth
certificate or passport, a placing agency shall provide a copy of
that document to the child's caregiver.
   (d) Nothing shall preclude the placing agency from providing the
name, mailing address, telephone number, and facsimile number of the
child's attorney and the child's court-appointed special advocate, if
any, to the child or the child's caregiver upon their request. 
   (e) The child's caregiver or other person holding the right to
make educational decisions for the child may provide the contact
information of the child's attorney, as described in paragraph (4) of
subdivision (e) of Section 317, to the child's school district when
the child has been placed outside of the county of jurisdiction for
the child.