BILL NUMBER: AB 1983	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 3, 2006
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 17, 2006

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Bass

                        FEBRUARY 9, 2006

   An act relating to foster children.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1983, as amended, Bass  Foster care.
   Under existing law, aid is provided to foster children until the
age of 18 years, but may be continued after a child's 18th birthday
if the child is attending high school or an equivalent vocational or
technical program, or is pursuing a high school equivalency
certificate, and meets other specified requirements.
   This bill would require the department to convene a work group to
identify former foster youth  who are 18 to 29 years of age 
as a priority population, establish which services are provided and
of most help to former foster youth, and to develop a plan to improve
outreach efforts with a goal to increasing accessibility of these
programs.
   This bill would require the work group to prepare and submit its
recommendations to the department no later than January 1, 2008.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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


  SECTION 1.  (a) The State Department of Social Services shall
convene a work group to identify former foster youth  who are 18
to 29 years of age as a priority population, to establish which
services that are provided to former foster care youth are of the
most help to them, and to develop a plan to improve outreach efforts
in a way that makes these services more accessible and more relevant
to former foster youth.
   (b) The work group may include, but is not limited to,
representatives of all of the following:
   (1) County welfare departments.
   (2) County mental health departments.
   (3) Local housing agencies.
   (4) County health departments.
   (5) State and local employment services agencies.
   (6) Employer organizations.
   (7) Employee organizations.
   (c) By January 1, 2008, the work group shall prepare and submit to
the department its recommendations relating to finding a more
effective and efficient method of providing services to former foster
youth.
   (d) The work group may secure private contributions to fund its
responsibilities pursuant to this section.