BILL NUMBER: SB 1279	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Wolk
   (Coauthor: Senator Liu)

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2012

   An act to add Section 10601.3 to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to child welfare services.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1279, as introduced, Wolk. Child welfare services system:
information access: outcomes.
   Under existing law, the state, through the State Department of
Social Services and county welfare departments, is required to
establish and support a public system of statewide child welfare
services.
   Existing law requires the department to establish the California
Child and Family Service Review System, in order to review all county
child welfare systems, as specified. Under existing law, these
reviews cover child protective services, foster care, adoption,
family preservation, family support, and independent living.
   This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to authorize
the department to obtain access to designated information held by
other state agencies as it relates to outcomes for children and youth
involved in the child welfare system, for purposes of monitoring
those outcomes and improving the operations of the child welfare
system. This bill would require the department to consult with state
and local agencies, child welfare advocates, and other appropriate
entities, to determine the outcomes identified pursuant to the bill.
The bill would require the department to provide information to the
budget and appropriate policy committees of both houses of the
Legislature, regarding identifying and monitoring the specified
outcomes, and related findings and recommendations for needed
statutory, regulatory, and fiscal changes.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 10601.3 is added to the Welfare and
Institutions Code, to read:
   10601.3.  (a) It is the intent of the Legislature to authorize the
State Department of Social Services to obtain access to information
held by other state agencies as it relates to outcomes for children
and youth involved in the child welfare system, for purposes of
monitoring those outcomes and improving the operations of the child
welfare system.
   (b) The department shall identify key outcomes for children in the
child welfare system, including, but not limited to, outcomes
associated with K-12 education, higher education, criminal justice
involvement, employment, and suicide, as provided in this section.
   (c) Outcome indicators shall reflect outcomes at the point of
separation from the child welfare system, as well as outcomes after
separation, including at least one point in time at least five years
following separation.
   (d) The department shall consult with state and local agencies,
child welfare advocates, and other appropriate entities, as
determined by the Director of Social Services, to determine the
outcomes identified pursuant to this section.
   (e) By January 1, 2015, the department shall provide information
to the budget and appropriate policy committees of both houses of the
Legislature, regarding all of the following:
   (1) The department's progress in identifying outcome measures for
the child welfare services system, including measures of outcomes for
youth who leave the system, as they relate to K-12 education, higher
education, criminal justice involvement, employment, suicide, and
any other relevant outcomes, as identified by the department.
   (2) The department's progress in monitoring those outcomes,
including, but not limited to, the timelines for monitoring and
reporting, the process to be used, and any funding or staffing
increases necessary at the state or local level to implement the
requirements of this section.
   (3) The department's findings and recommendations for implementing
this section, including information on common statutory, regulatory,
or fiscal barriers identified as inhibiting the requirements of this
section, and recommendations for overcoming those barriers.
   (f) The requirement for submitting a report imposed pursuant to
subdivision (e) is inoperative on January 1, 2019, pursuant to
Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.