BILL NUMBER: SB 206	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Emmerson

                        FEBRUARY 8, 2013

   An act to amend Section 16004 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to foster care.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 206, as introduced, Emmerson. Foster care.
   Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to
develop recommendations for the Legislature, in consultation with the
Chief Probation Officers' Association and the County Welfare
Directors Association, regarding, among other things procedures for
placing siblings together when one or more siblings are in the
juvenile dependency system and one or more siblings are in the
juvenile delinquency systems, when those placements are appropriate.
   This bill would make nonsubstantive, technical changes to those
provisions.
   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 16004 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
   16004.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares that there is an
urgent need to develop placement resources to permit sibling groups
to remain together in out-of-home care when removed from the custody
of their parents due to child abuse or neglect. Multiple barriers
exist, including local ordinances and community care licensing
standards, that limit or prevent the county placement agency from
fulfilling its obligation pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section
16002 to place siblings together.
   Therefore, the Legislature declares its intent to develop specific
placement resources to accommodate sibling groups.
   (b) The State Department of Social Services shall, in consultation
with the County Welfare Directors Association, the Judicial Council,
organizations representing foster youth, and other similar,
interested organizations, make recommendations to increase the
available sibling placement resources. The possible policy changes to
be addressed shall include, but shall not be limited to, the
following:
   (1) The creation of a special licensing category for sibling care,
including sibling group foster homes.
   (2) Development of children's villages with separate cottages to
provide a home for each sibling group.
   (3) Funding for targeted recruitment of foster parents for large
sibling groups.
   (4) Establishment of a higher foster care payment rate for
caretakers who accept sibling groups.
   (5) Funding for one-time capital improvement costs to remodel
homes to accommodate placement of siblings and provide for other
 up-front   upfront  costs,  such
as   including, but not limited to,  vans, car
seats, and other items.
   (6) Establishment of guidelines for placing siblings, who cannot
be placed in the same home, within geographic proximity to each other
and exploration of the possibility of permitting these siblings to
have the option of enrolling in the same school district even when
the siblings reside in different school districts.
   (c) The department shall develop recommendations for the
Legislature, in consultation with the Chief Probation Officers
Association and the County Welfare Directors Association, regarding
procedures for doing both of the following:
   (1) Placing siblings together when one or more siblings are in the
juvenile dependency system and one or more siblings are in the
juvenile delinquency systems, when  such   those
 placements are appropriate.
   (2) Maintaining contact and sharing information between siblings
who are placed separately in out-of-home care under the juvenile
dependency and the juvenile delinquency systems.
   (d) The department shall submit the recommendations described in
subdivisions (b) and (c) to the Legislature by November 1, 2001.