BILL ANALYSIS �
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Kevin de Le�n, Chair
AB 346 (Stone) - Runaway and homeless youth shelters.
Amended: June 14, 2013 Policy Vote: Human Services 6-0
Urgency: No Mandate: Yes
Hearing Date: July 1, 2013 Consultant: Jolie Onodera
This bill does not meet the criteria for referral to the
Suspense File.
Bill Summary: AB 346 would establish "runaway and homeless youth
shelters" (RHYS) as a new subcategory of group home under the
Community Care Facilities Act (CCFA), requiring licensure by the
Department of Social Services (DSS), as specified.
Fiscal Impact:
Minor workload impact likely less than $50,000 (General
Fund) to the DSS to adopt regulations establishing RHYS as a
subcategory under the existing group home licensing
category. Minor, absorbable ongoing costs related to
enforcement. There are approximately 40 facilities, of which
28 facilities are currently licensed by DSS.
Enables youth shelters to retain eligibility for federal
funding in the range of $5 million to $7 million under the
Runaway and Homeless Youth Act. Funding is conditional on
compliance with state licensing standards such that youth
shelters could potentially risk federal citation and loss of
federal funding in the absence of this measure.
Ongoing costs to the Department of Justice (DOJ) of less
than $25,000 (Special Fund*) to process additional
background checks and checks of the Child Abuse Central
Index (CACI) for staff and volunteers of RHYS.
*Fingerprint Fees Account/Sexual Habitual Offender Program
(SHOP)
Background: Existing law establishes the CCFA which provides for
the licensure and regulation by the DSS of nonmedical
residential and non-residential facilities for children and
adults who require care or services. Current law establishes
numerous requirements and standards for "group homes", defined
to mean non-detention, privately operated residential homes,
organized and operated on a non-profit basis only, of any
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capacity. Emergency youth shelters operating in this state
provide voluntary, short-term shelter and personal services to
youth who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
It is estimated there are approximately 40 emergency youth
shelters operating in California, however, it is not clear
whether these facilities are subject to state licensure under
existing law. Many shelters operate under group home licenses
(some with exemptions for specific components), but facilities
have indicated barriers to serving youth seeking voluntary
temporary care due to group home standards developed for
non-voluntary, long-term placements.
Many emergency youth shelters receive federal grant funding
through the federal Runaway and Homeless Youth Act. Although
federal law does not require that grantees be licensed, all
grantees must be in compliance with their state and local
licensing requirements and standards. This has led to
inconsistency and misunderstanding regarding the interpretation
of this requirement, potentially jeopardizing the receipt of
federal funds.
This bill would create uniform statewide criteria for these
facilities and would provide clear, consistent guidelines for
facilities and regulators to ensure the continued receipt of
federal grant funds and a safe environment for these youth.
Proposed Law: This bill would require the DSS to license
"runaway and homeless youth shelters" as a subcategory of group
home, as specified. Specifically, this bill:
Defines "runaway and homeless youth shelter" as a group
home licensed by the DSS to operate a program to provide
voluntary, short-term (no more than 21 consecutive days),
24-hour, non-medical care and supervision and personal
services to runaway youth or homeless youth, as defined:
o Homeless youth - a youth 12 to 17 years of
age, or 18 years of age if the youth is completing
high school or its equivalent, who is in need of
services and without a place of shelter.
o Runaway youth - a youth 12 to 17 years of age,
or 18 years of age if the youth is completing high
school or its equivalent, who absents himself or
herself from home or place of legal residence without
the permission of his or her family, legal guardian,
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or foster parent.
Provides that RHYS shall have a maximum capacity of 25
youths.
Provides that RHYS shall have a staff to youth ratio of
1:8.
Provides that RHYS shall establish procedures to assist
youth in securing long-term stability that includes family
reunification and coordinating with appropriate
individuals, local agencies, or organizations to help
foster youth secure a suitable placement.
Provides that prior to employment or interaction with
youth at RHYS, all specified persons shall complete
criminal background checks.
Specifies that a RHYS program is not eligible for a
foster care rate, and that a RHYS is not a placement option
for foster youth.
Prior Legislation: SB 119 (Lowenthal) 2012 would have created a
new licensing category for emergency youth shelter facilities
and would have directed the DSS to adopt regulations by January
1, 2013. This bill was held on the Suspense File of this
committee.
Staff Comments: The provisions of this bill will provide the DSS
with the statutory authority necessary to license runaway and
homeless youth shelters by creating a subcategory of group home
licensure under the CCFA. The DSS has indicated the workload
associated with the adoption of regulations for this subcategory
will result in minor and absorbable costs, as much of the
structure established for group homes will be used for the RHYS
subcategory, and appropriate modifications tailored for RHYS
have already been discussed with stakeholders.
The DOJ has indicated the provisions of this bill will result in
additional workload-related costs of less than $25,000 (Special
Fund) per year to conduct background checks and checks of the
CACI for employees and volunteers of RHYS.
To the extent these facilities are able to provide greater
access to services for these youth to reduce homelessness, there
could be increased state and local costs for services. However,
depending on the nature of these services, there may be
significant future cost savings to the state and counties
associated with the criminal justice and public social services
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systems.