BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1171
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Date of Hearing: May 15, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 1171 (Levine) - As Amended: May 7, 2013
Policy Committee: Human
ServicesVote:5 - 1
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill establishes a three-county pilot to provide electronic
access to records for foster youth. Specifically, this bill:
1)Establishes a pilot program in three counties to provide a
foster youth who is 16 years of age or older, upon his or her
request, the ability to establish an online electronic
repository for his or her records, which shall include, but
not be limited to:
a) Medical or health records.
b) Certified copy of birth certificate.
c) Social security card.
d) Letter proving the child or nonminor dependent was a
ward or dependent of the court.
e) Special immigrant juvenile status, if applicable.
f) School records.
g) Driver's license.
h) Background and contact information of siblings and other
family members.
i) Application to seal juvenile court records.
2)Requires the California Department of Social Services (DSS) to
select the three counties upon their agreement to participate.
3)Requires DSS to create and maintain an online repository for
the records.
4)Requires DSS report to the Legislature on the success of the
pilot by December 1, 2017 and sunsets the pilot project
January 1, 2018.
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FISCAL EFFECT
Costs associated with this legislation would likely be in excess
of $500,000 (GF) for workload associated with DSS developing an
electronic depository for the required documents and for
developing, administering, and evaluating the pilot project.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . Existing law requires a foster care provider, in
consultation with the county case manager, to be responsible
for ensuring that a foster youth or non-minor dependent is
provided with referrals to health services when the foster
youth either reaches 18 years of age or the non-minor
dependent exits foster care. In order to access these
services, foster youth require access to their records. In
addition, foster youth are currently provided with paper
copies of their vital records. The author notes these
documents are often lost or stolen. Without access to these
documents, it is difficult for foster youth to apply for jobs,
secure housing, and access health care services. This bill
allows foster youth to access those records electronically.
1)Support . The sponsors, the California Alliance of Child and
Family Services, states continuity of treatment is important
in a child's healthcare, especially for foster youth, who tend
to have greater and more complex health care needs than other
children, and account for a disproportionate share of public
health spending.
2)Should the report be due earlier ? As currently drafted, the
evaluation of the pilot is due to the Legislature one month
before the pilot sunsets. The author may wish to consider
requiring the submission of the report one year earlier, to
allow time for legislation to be passed to extend or expand
the pilot project, if it proves to be successful.
Analysis Prepared by : Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
AB 1171
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