BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 342|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 342
Author: Yee (D)
Amended: 5/24/13
Vote: 21
SENATE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE : 6-0, 4/9/13
AYES: Yee, Berryhill, Emmerson, Evans, Liu, Wright
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 7-0, 5/23/13
AYES: De León, Walters, Gaines, Hill, Lara, Padilla, Steinberg
SUBJECT : Foster children: social worker: visits
SOURCE : California Youth Connection
Childrens Law Center of California
Legal Advocates for Children and Youth
DIGEST : This bill requires the mandated visits by the county
social worker or probation officer (caseworker) of foster
children to occur in the home residence of the foster child and
for that visit to include a private discussion between the
foster child and the caseworker. Requires the caseworker to
advise the foster child of the right to request that the private
discussion occur outside the group home. Clarifies that if a
foster child requests to have the private discussion outside the
group home, it does not replace the visit in the group home and
does not require the caseworker to schedule an additional visit
to accommodate the request.
ANALYSIS :
CONTINUED
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Existing law:
1. Requires the state, through the Department of Social Services
and county welfare departments, to establish and support a
public system of child welfare services to protect and
promote the welfare of children.
2. Requires all foster children with an approved case plan to be
visited at least once per calendar month by their caseworker
except the caseworker may have less frequent visits, up to a
minimum of once every six months, if specified conditions are
met.
3. Requires all foster children placed in group homes to be
visited at least monthly by their caseworker and that each
visit include a private discussion between the child and
caseworker away from group home staff, unless the caseworker
believes disclosure is necessary to meet the needs of the
child.
4. Requires the majority of caseworker visits with the child to
take place in the child's residence.
5. Requires a caseworker to have contact with a foster child's
out of home care provider once per month and to visit no less
than once every six months, except as specified.
6. Defines caseworker to include a foster family social worker
from a foster family agency, out of state social worker, and
probation officer in addition to county social workers for
the purpose of complying with mandatory caseworker visits.
This bill:
1. Requires the mandatory monthly caseworkers visits of foster
children placed in group homes to occur in the group home.
2. Requires the mandatory caseworker visits of foster children
placed in any licensed, certified or approved foster home to
occur in the foster home.
3. Requires the caseworker to advise the foster child of his/her
right to request their private discussion occur, outside the
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group home or foster home.
4. Provides that this private discussion does not replace the
visit in the group home or foster home and does not require
the caseworker to schedule additional visits to accommodate
the request.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: Yes
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, potential
increased annual state costs (non-reimbursable) of an unknown,
but potentially significant amount to the extent the provisions
of this bill result in an extended amount of time per visit for
certain cases than otherwise would occur under existing law.
For every 10% of visits that currently occur outside the home
(24%), which equates to 2.4% of total visits, 30 minutes of
additional time could result in costs of approximately $475,000
per year.
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/24/13)
California Youth Connection (co-source)
Children's Law Center of California (co-source)
Legal Advocates for Children and Youth (co-source)
Children's Advocacy Institute
Dependency Legal Group of San Diego
Junior Leagues of California
Juvenile Court Judges of California
National Association of Social Workers, California
RM:d 5/25/13 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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