BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                  AB 868
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 8, 2013

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                AB 868 (Ammiano) - As Introduced:  February 21, 2013 

          Policy Committee:                              JudiciaryVote:8-2

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:               

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires the courts to incorporate gender identity and  
          sexual orientation curricula into various existing training  
          programs. Specifically, this bill: 

          1)Requires training programs for judges, referees,  
            commissioners, mediators, and others who perform duties in  
            family law matters to include instruction in the effects of  
            gender identity and sexual orientation on family law  
            proceedings.

          2)Requires training programs for appointed counsel for a child,  
            and for persons acting as a court-appointed special advocate  
            (CASA) to include instruction on cultural competency and  
            sensitivity relating to, providing adequate care to lesbian,  
            gay, bisexual, and transgender youth.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Cost for the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to  
          incorporate the required elements into existing training  
          programs will be minor and absorbable.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Purpose  . According to the author, "LGBT youth are  
            disproportionately targeted for harassment and discrimination  
            in the child welfare system.  This abuse is perpetrated not  
            only by youth peers, but in some cases by facility staff, and  
            other service providers [including] foster parents, relative  
            caregivers, and the courts.  By providing judges, court  
            appointed [youth counsel] and CASAs with training specific to  








                                                                  AB 868
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            LGBT youth and guidance on proper measures the courts should  
            take to ensure a supportive and safe environment, we can  
            reduce the discrimination that some LGBT foster youth  
            experience and impose outcomes for these youth."

           2)Prior Legislation  . AB 1856 (Ammiano)/ Chapter 639 of 2012,  
            required the training for administrators of a group home  
            facility, licensed foster parents, and relative or nonrelative  
            extended family member caregivers to also include instruction  
            on cultural competency and sensitivity relating to, and best  
            practices for, providing adequate care to LGBT youth in  
            out-of-home care.

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081