BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 2195
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 10, 2006

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                   Judy Chu, Chair

                    AB 2195 (Bass) - As Amended:  April 17, 2006 

          Policy Committee:                              Human  
          ServicesVote:6 - 0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          Yes    Reimbursable:              Yes

           SUMMARY  

          This bill allows for the assessment of a foster child's relative  
          or non-relative extended family member to act as a temporary,  
          emergency placement in the event that the child's current foster  
          caregiver is suddenly and unexpectedly unavailable to provide  
          care for the child.  Specifically, this bill: 

          1)Specifies that when a foster caregiver is suddenly and  
            unexpectedly unavailable to care for a child, that an  
            assessment of a willing relative or non-relative extended  
            family member shall be initiated so that they can provide  
            emergency placement for the child.

          2)Requires that all of the requirements applied to the licensing  
            assessment of foster parents be used in assessing the  
            temporary, relative caregiver.  

          3)Requires the California Department of Social Services (DSS) to  
            convene a workgroup to assist in the development of a brochure  
            that summarizes caregiver roles and responsibilities for  
            children in the foster care system.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          This bill will primarily attract extended family members of  
          current relative caregivers (approximately 37,000).  If 10  
          percent of the children living with relative caregivers need an  
          emergency placement each year the cost would be about $2.5  
          million to assess the homes of approximately 3,700 potential  
          emergency caregivers. 









                                                                  AB 2195
                                                                  Page  2

          In addition, this bill requires DSS to convene a workgroup and  
          develop a brochure for caregivers, the state operations costs  
          associated with that activity could reach $100,000.

           COMMENTS  

           Rationale.    This bill seeks to clarify existing law which is  
          ambiguous when it comes to placing a child on an emergency basis  
          with a relative or non-related extended family caregiver. The  
          current interpretation of the law allows counties to make  
          emergency placements with relatives or non-related extended  
          family members only at the beginning of their placement in  
          foster care. This bill would make it clear that children can be  
          placed with family members at any point during their time in  
          foster care that their current caregiver suddenly and  
          unexpectedly becomes unable to care for them.
           Analysis Prepared by  :    Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081