BILL NUMBER: AB 1983	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Bass

                        FEBRUARY 9, 2006

   An act to amend Section 11403 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to foster children, and making an appropriation
therefor.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1983, as introduced, Bass  Foster care.
   Existing law permits a child who is in foster care and receiving
aid pursuant to the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster
Care (AFDC-FC) program, who is attending high school or the
equivalent level of vocational or technical training on a full-time
basis prior to his or her 18th birthday, to continue to receive aid
following his or her 18th birthday, if the child continues to reside
in foster care placement, remains otherwise eligible for AFDC-FC
payments, and continues to attend high school or the equivalent level
of vocational or technical training on a full-time basis or is
pursuing a high school equivalency certificate and if the child may
reasonably be expected to complete the educational or training
program before his or her 19th birthday. Existing law continuously
appropriates moneys from the General Fund to defray a portion of
county aid grant costs under the CalWORKs program, which includes the
AFDC-FC program.
   This bill would extend the eligibility of an otherwise eligible
child receiving aid under the AFDC-FC program but who does not meet
the eligibility conditions described above, for the period during
which the child continues to remain in foster care placement, until
the child finishes high school, obtains an equivalency certificate,
or finishes the equivalent level of vocational or educational
training, or until the child reaches 25 years of age, whichever
occurs first. By extending eligibility for AFDC-FC benefits, this
bill would make an appropriation. By extending eligibility for
AFDC-FC benefits, this bill would increase the duties of counties
administering the program, thus imposing a state-mandated local
program.
  The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.
   Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 11403 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
   11403.   (a)    A child who is in foster care
and receiving aid pursuant to this chapter and who is attending high
school or the equivalent level of vocational or technical training on
a full-time basis, or who is in the process of pursuing a high
school equivalency certificate, prior to his or her 18th birthday,
may continue to receive aid following his or her 18th birthday so
long as the child continues to reside in foster care placement,
remains otherwise eligible for AFDC-FC payments, and continues to
attend high school or the equivalent level of vocational or technical
training on a full-time basis, or continues to pursue a high school
equivalency certificate, and the child may reasonably be expected to
complete the educational or training program or to receive a high
school equivalency certificate, before his or her 19th birthday. Aid
shall be provided to an individual pursuant to this section provided
both the individual and the agency responsible for the foster care
placement have signed a mutual agreement, if the individual is
capable of making an informed agreement, which documents the
continued need for out-of-home placement.  
   (b) Any child who is in foster care and receiving aid pursuant to
this chapter and who does not meet the requirements of subdivision
(a) and remains otherwise eligible for AFDC-FC payments shall
continue to receive aid pursuant to this chapter as long as the child
continues to reside in foster care placement, until the child
completes high school, obtains a certificate of equivalency,
completes the educational training, or reaches 25 years of age,
whichever occurs first. 
  SEC. 2.  If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.