BILL NUMBER: AB 474	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Stone

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2013

   An act to amend Section 16516.5 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to child welfare services.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 474, as introduced, Stone. Child welfare services.
   Existing law requires that all foster children placed in group
homes by county welfare departments or county probation departments
be visited at least monthly by a county social worker or probation
officer, and specifies the funding sources for these monthly visits.
   This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to that funding
provision.
   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.  Section 16516.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
   16516.5.  (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or
regulation, all foster children placed in group homes by county
welfare departments or county probation departments shall be visited
at least monthly by a county social worker or probation officer. Each
visit shall include a private discussion between the foster child
and the county social worker or probation officer. The discussion
shall not be held in the presence or immediate vicinity of the group
home staff. The contents of the private discussion shall not be
disclosed to the group home staff, except that the social worker or
probation officer may disclose information under any of the following
circumstances:
   (1) The social worker or probation officer believes that the
foster child may be in danger of harming himself or herself, or
others.
   (2) The social worker or probation officer believes that
disclosure is necessary to meet the needs of the child.
   (3) The child consents to disclosure of the information.
   (b) (1)  Prior to   Before  the 2011-12
fiscal year, notwithstanding Section 10101, the state shall pay 100
percent of the nonfederal costs associated with the monthly
visitation requirement in subdivision (a) in excess of the minimum
semiannual visits required under current regulations.
   (2) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), beginning in the 2011-12
fiscal year, and for each fiscal year thereafter, funding and
expenditures for programs and activities under this section shall be
in accordance with the requirements provided in Sections 30025 and
30026.5 of the Government Code.