BILL ANALYSIS
AB 363
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 363 (Chu)
As Amended July 7, 2005
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |74-0 |(May 27, 2005) |SENATE: |27-12|(August 25, |
| | | | | |2005) |
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Original Committee Reference: HUM. S.
SUMMARY : Requires the Department of Social Services (DSS) to
establish a process for allocating funds appropriated in the
Budget Act to counties to implement approaches to improve
performance on outcome indicators established through the
California Child and Family Service Review System.
The Senate amendments :
1)Delete the provision establishing a Child Welfare Services
Outcomes and Accountability Incentive Fund (Incentive Fund).
2)Ensure that to the extent funds are appropriated in the annual
Budget Act, DSS in consultation with counties shall establish
a process for allocating the funds to counties.
3)Make other technical changes.
EXISTING LAW requires counties to establish and meet outcome
measures in the delivery of Child Welfare Services (CWS) on
behalf of abused and neglected children.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill created the Incentive Fund
to be used by counties as they implement improvements outlined
through their federal Child and Family Service Review (CFSR).
FISCAL EFFECT : The 2005-06 Budget Act appropriates $3.7 million
General Fund for the Child Welfare Services Outcome Improvement
Project. Outlines the process through which these funds will be
distributed to counties.
COMMENTS : In 2001, the Legislature passed AB 636 (Steinberg)
Chapter 678, Statutes of 2001, which establishes the Child
Welfare Outcomes and Accountability System which measures
AB 363
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outcomes-based indicators for each county, including the
measures used in the federal CFSR. Counties, in collaboration
with other local agencies and their communities, were required
to formulate a County System Improvement Plan (SIP) which
outlined program priorities, defined strategies and steps to
achieve improvement and set quantitative measurements of
success.
In 2002 California, along with nine other states, failed all
seven safety, well-being and permanency outcomes in the federal
CFSR. While states may be penalized for failing to meet their
outcomes and measurements, California and other states have been
given an opportunity to submit plans for improvement, and meet
specific benchmarks towards success before they are assessed
penalties. The state Child Welfare Outcomes and Accountability
System also requires counties to address all of the federal
review indicators and measurements.
Counties began to receive data from AB 636 this year, allowing
them to identify weaknesses in their performance and focus on
specific improvements. Every county has submitted their SIP to
DSS. In the coming months, DSS is expected to send letters to
each county indicating their approval of each SIP. To avoid
federal penalties, California must develop and implement program
improvement plans. But, despite the progress counties have made
on the plans, they don't have the necessary funds to implement
needed improvements.
According to the author, "AB 363 will additionally create a
feedback mechanism between the Legislature and DSS." DSS would
be required to provide information to the Legislature regarding
the findings and recommendations for improvements identified in
the counties' SIPs.
Analysis Prepared by : Caitlin O'Halloran / HUM. S. / (916)
319-2089
FN: 0012055