BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 592
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Date of Hearing: May 13, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
592 (Mark Stone) - As Amended March 26, 2015
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill permits the Department of Social Services (DSS) to
provide a former foster youth, upon his or her request, with
proof of dependency or wardship, as specified.
AB 592
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FISCAL EFFECT:
Minor costs (GF) to DSS, likely absorbable, depending on the
number of requests received.
COMMENTS:
Purpose and Background. Currently, a youth exiting foster care
must be supplied a document from the county, "proof of county
dependency status," that verifies their time within foster care.
Most foster youth receive their verification letter through the
county; however, it can be difficult to gain access to this
information if a former foster youth has received care in
multiple counties or moved out of the county of placement after
leaving care. Should the youth misplace or no longer have this
verification, he or she must request a replacement from the
county in which he or she received care, regardless of where he
or she is currently living.
In 2014, 2,425 youth ages 18 and over exited foster care. The
state allows and provides several benefits specifically designed
to help former foster youth transition into adulthood
successfully. According to the author, former foster youth who
need to obtain replacement documentation verifying their time
spent in foster care can face difficulties that ultimately
impede their ability to promptly apply and become eligible for
necessary benefits. Some former foster youth are unable to
access these benefits because they cannot verify their previous
foster youth status through documentation.
AB 592
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This bill would provide clear authority to DSS, and by
extension, the Foster Care Ombudsman, to provide youth this
documentation. This will give youth who are having difficulty
accessing their information the option of obtaining the
documentation from DSS.
Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Swenson / APPR. / (916)
319-2081