BILL ANALYSIS Ó SB 342 Page 1 Date of Hearing: August 14, 2013 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Mike Gatto, Chair SB 342 (Yee) - As Amended: May 24, 2013 Policy Committee: Human ServicesVote:7 - 0 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: Yes Reimbursable: Yes SUMMARY This bill requires mandated visits by county caseworkers to occur in the group home or foster home of the child. This bill would additionally require county caseworkers to advise the foster child that he or she has the right to request a private discussion outside of the group home or foster home. That private discussion would not replace the mandated visit in the group home or foster home. However, the social worker or probation officer would not be required to schedule an additional visit to accommodate the request. FISCAL EFFECT 1)GF costs likely in excess of $500,000 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. 2)Proposition 30, passed by the voters in November 2012 eliminated any potential mandate funding liability for any new program or higher level of service provided by counties related to the realigned programs. Although the provisions of this bill are a mandate on local agencies, any increased costs do not appear to be subject to reimbursement by the state. Rather, Proposition 30 specifies that for legislation enacted after September 30, 2012, that has an overall effect of increasing the costs already borne by a local agency for realigned programs, the provisions shall apply to local agencies only to the extent that the state provides annual funding for the cost increase. SB 342 Page 2 COMMENTS Background and Purpose . Current state law requires all foster children placed in group homes by county human services departments or county probation departments to be visited at least monthly by a county social worker or probation officer. Each visit must include a private discussion between the foster child and the county social worker or probation officer, and the discussion is not to be held in the presence or immediate vicinity of the group home staff. Similarly, when a county social worker or probation officer makes a regular visit with a child in any licensed, certified, or approved foster home, the visit must include a private discussion between the foster child and the caseworker, and the discussion may not be held in the presence or immediate vicinity of the foster parent or caregiver. According to the California Youth Connection, the sponsor of this measure, recent data from DSS demonstrates that approximately 30% of required social worker visits do not occur at the foster home or group home where the child lives. This has resulted in circumstances where a particular group home or foster home was not visited by a case worker for an extended period of time. The purpose of this bill is to ensure that visits with social workers take place within the home where the child is placed and that the child has an opportunity to speak privately with his or her social worker outside of the home, if necessary. , Analysis Prepared by : Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916) 319-2081