BILL ANALYSIS
SB 500
Page 1
Date of Hearing: August 17, 2005
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Judy Chu, Chair
SB 500 (Kuehl) - As Amended: June 16, 2005
Policy Committee: Human Services
Vote: 6-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
Yes Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill creates additional placement and funding options for
counties placing foster youth who are parents of children who
may or may not be dependents of the juvenile court.
Specifically, this bill:
1)Creates and defines a new foster placement option, the "whole
family foster home," to provide care to a teen parent and his
or her child. These foster homes will require adults who have
been specifically trained to aid in preparing the young parent
for caring for a child.
2)Establishes that a teen parent's juvenile dependency status
does not place a child at greater risk of or need for juvenile
dependency services or supervision.
3)Requires that when a child of a teen parent is not a juvenile
court dependent that a written shared responsibility plan be
developed by the teen parent, key individuals, extended family
members, the caregiver and a representative of the agency
providing supervision to the caregiver.
4)Requires the Department of Social Services (DSS) to develop a
rate setting system for whole foster family homes.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)An unknown increase in annual costs in excess of $300,000 to
the extent this bill increases foster care rates. Estimates
of how many young parents may be affected by this bill range
from 400 to more than 2,000. Therefore, even minor increases
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in rates paid on behalf of a teen parent and a child under the
newly created whole family placement rate will result in a
significant increase in foster care costs.
For example, a two percent increase in the rate paid on behalf
of 1,000 teen foster parents would result in increased costs
of $612,000. This estimate assumes an annual average cost of
foster care of $30,600 per teen and does not address the
child-related portion of a newly created rate. Foster care
costs are shared by federal, state, and local governments
depending on the eligibility of the child.
2)Unknown savings to the extent this bill encourages the
placement of dependent parents and children together and in
less expensive foster care. Foster care costs range from $300
per month to more than $5,000 per month.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale . This bill, co-sponsored by the County Welfare
Directors Association (CWDA) and the Children's Law Center of
Los Angeles, shifts incentives and bolsters programmatic
infrastructure to increase the likelihood a teen foster parent
and a child who is also a court dependent of being placed
together.
2)Existing Law . Foster care is an open-ended entitlement program
funded by federal, state, and local governments. Children are
eligible for foster care grants if they are living with a
foster care provider under a court order or a voluntary
agreement between the child's parent and a county welfare
department. There are more than 75,000 children currently in
foster care in the state.
Many long term foster youth face substantial social,
educational, economic, and health barriers both while in care
and upon leaving care. These youth have poor outcomes in many
areas compared to non-foster youth, including higher rates of
teen pregnancy. Although not much data is available about teen
parents in foster care, it is reasonable to assume they face
even greater barriers than other foster care youth in leading
healthy and stable lives.
3)Related Legislation . SB 1178 (Kuehl), Chapter 841, Statutes of
2004, required county welfare departments, to the extent
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possible, to make placements that support dependent teens and
their children.
Analysis Prepared by : Mary Ader / APPR. / (916) 319-2081