BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2194
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 10, 2006
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Judy Chu, Chair
AB 2194 (Bass) - As Amended: April 19, 2006
Policy Committee: Human
ServicesVote:6 - 0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill expands eligibility for the Independent Living Program
(ILP) to wards of non-related legal guardians (NRLGs) that
receive permanent placement services and to former foster youth
that were adopted at the age of 14 or older.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)The funding for ILP is a relatively stable amount ($38 million
proposed for 2006-07) and is not sufficient to provide
services for all of the eligible foster youth. Adding
additional eligible youth to the ILP caseload does not
guarantee that the counties will be able to provide services
for them. Alternately, counties may decide to provide fewer
services thus allowing their funding to stretch father to
cover more eligible youth.
2)If the funding were to increase proportionally to account for
the new eligible youth, it would likely cost approximately
$3.5 million.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale. ILP services are provided at the county level to
assist current and former foster care youth transition into
independent living. Typically, youth become eligible between
their 16th birthday and their emancipation from the system. If
a foster child is placed in a guardianship family placement
with a non-relative family, the county is not obligated to
provide ILP services. Similarly, if a youth is adopted prior
to his or her 16th birthday, regardless of the length of time
AB 2194
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they spent in foster care, they are not eligible for ILP
services. However, if the child is adopted on or after his or
her 16th birthday, they are eligible to receive ILP services.
This bill would expand eligibility for the program to include
these guardianship children and children adopted at 14 or
older.
2)Background . ILP services for foster youth vary greatly by
county. Among the services provided are transitional housing,
textbooks for community college students, job placement
assistance, supplies for setting up their first apartments,
cooking and housekeeping classes.
a) Independent Living Program. The Department of Social
Services has estimated that it will receive approximately
$23 million in federal funding for providing ILP services
to foster youth and former foster youth. The federal
government allows the state to use these funds to help
facilitate the transition for foster youth who will be
emancipating from the program without an adoptive parent or
guardian. The funds can be used for youth between the ages
of 16 and 21, or in cases where 14 and 15-year-olds are
determined likely to emancipate from foster care. Federal
funding, however, is insufficient to provide services for
all eligible foster youth.
b) Extended ILP . SB 933 (Chapter 311, Statutes of 1998)
implemented the extended portion of ILP, which increases
the funding in an attempt to allow most eligible foster
youth to receive ILP services. The governor's proposed
budget for 2006-07 proposes $15 million in state GF for
extended ILP services.
Analysis Prepared by : Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916)
319-2081