BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE
Senator S. Joseph Simitian, Chair
BILL NO: AB 1412
A
AUTHOR: Leno
B
VERSION: May 27, 2005
HEARING DATE: June 28, 2005
1
FISCAL: Senate Appropriations
4
1
CONSULTANT:
2
Sue North
SUBJECT
Permanency Planning for Foster Youth
SUMMARY
This bill expands, subject to appropriation through the
Budget Act, the responsibilities of county child welfare
workers by directing them to ask all foster children 10
years old or older who have been in placement longer than
six months about developing and maintaining supportive
relationships with adults who can serve in important roles
in the foster youth's life.
ABSTRACT
Existing law requires child welfare workers to ask foster
children 10 years old and older who have lived in group
homes longer than six months about developing and
sustaining supportive relationships with adults. (AB 408,
Ch. 813, Statutes of 2003; and AB 2807, Ch. 810, Statutes
of 2004.)
Existing law also requires a court to determine if the
child welfare agency has made reasonable efforts to
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identify supportive adults consistent with the child's best
interests.
Additionally, existing law also allows foster youth over
the age of 12 to review his or her case plan.
This bill:
1. Expands the children benefiting from this activity
from only those living in group homes to all children
living in a variety of settings;
2. Subjects the implementation of this bill to
appropriation through the Budget Act;
3. Amends current law establishing the development of
a case plan to direct the inclusion of the child in
the development of the case plan as age and
developmentally appropriate;
4. At age 12 or older, a foster youth would be given
the opportunity to participate in the case plan-to
review, sign, and to receive a copy of the case plan;
5. Requires a child's statement of his or her wishes
with regard to a permanency plan become part of the
plan along with an assessment of the child's wishes;
and
6. Sets a priority for implementation, subject to
appropriation, to give first priority to children 10
years or older who have been placed with nonrelatives;
second priority to expand the children to those in
permanent placement with relatives; the final phase
being for all other foster children 10 years or older
in placement longer than six months.
FISCAL IMPACT
Assembly Appropriations originally estimated the cost to be
approximately less than $870,000 ($350,000 General Fund).
However, the bill has been amended to makes its
implementation subject to appropriation.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
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According to the author, "in California, social workers
often focus permanency efforts on younger children even
though over half the children in foster care are over age
11 and will remain in foster care for the majority of their
childhood. Many foster youth leave care without a single
lasting relationship or connection with any adult. Many
youth have relationships only with professionals who are
paid to fulfill a role, like a social worker, and
therefore, the relationships only last while the youth is
in foster care."
Assembly votes:
Assembly Human Services 6-0
Assembly Judiciary 6-3
Assembly Appropriations 13-5
Assembly Floor 54-25
POSITIONS
Support: California Youth Connection (Sponsor)
National Center for Youth Law
Youth Law Center
California Association of Adoption Agencies
California Alliance of Child and Family
Services
Family Law Section, California State Bar
Alliance for Children's Rights
Alameda County Foster Youth Alliance
Honoring Emancipated Youth
GLASS
Social Advocates for Youth
Junior Leagues of California
California Welfare Directors Association
National Association of Social Workers,
California Chapter
Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and
Neglect
Oppose: None received
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