BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular Session
SB 942 (Liu) - Dependency proceedings: relative caregivers
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|Version: April 19, 2016 |Policy Vote: HUMAN S. 4 - 0, |
| | JUD. 6 - 0 |
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|Urgency: No |Mandate: Yes |
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|Hearing Date: May 27, 2016 |Consultant: Jolie Onodera |
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Bill
Summary: SB 942 would establish additional procedures for the
temporary placement of a child with a relative, as follows:
Requires a social worker to conduct an assessment and
background check of up to two relatives, as specified, and
provide results or status to the court within seven days.
Authorizes a child or parent/guardian to request a hearing on
the recommendations, and requires the court to hold a hearing
within 10 court days after such a request.
Requires a county to complete the assessment process,
including any exemptions and waivers, within 30 calendar days,
and would authorize the court to conduct hearings to determine
why the assessment has not been completed and/or if the county
has abused its discretion.
Requires a county to assist, to the extent possible, a person
to locate and obtain any documents required for a criminal
records exemption, as specified.
*********** ANALYSIS ADDENDUM - SUSPENSE FILE ***********
The following information is revised to reflect amendments
adopted by the committee on May 27, 2016
SB 942 (Liu) Page 1 of
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Fiscal
Impact:
Social worker activities : Potentially major increase in
social worker workload, potentially in the millions of dollars
(General Fund*) annually to meet the specified timeframes to
complete up to two in-home assessments, background checks,
exemptions, and document assistance, as well as reporting to
the court and participation at additional court hearings.
Court hearings : Potentially significant increase in state
court costs (General Fund**) to conduct additional hearings
both mandatory and discretionary.
Department of Justice (DOJ) : Minor workload increase (Special
Fund***) to complete background checks through CLETS/CACI, to
be reimbursed through fees.
Proposition 30* : Exempts the State from mandate reimbursement
for realigned responsibilities for "public safety services"
including the provision of child welfare services, however,
legislation enacted after September 30, 2012, that has an
overall effect of increasing the costs already borne by a
local agency for public safety services apply to local
agencies only to the extent that the State provides annual
funding for the cost increase. The provisions of Proposition
30 have not been interpreted through the formal court process
to date, however, to the extent the local agency costs
resulting from this measure are determined to be applicable
under the provisions of Proposition 30, could result in
additional costs to the State.
**Trial Court Trust Fund
***Fingerprint Fees Account
Author
Amendments: Delete the requirement for social workers to
complete or provide the results or the status of assessments to
the court within seven days, as specified.
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