BILL NUMBER: AB 743	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Portantino

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2009

   An act relating to foster care.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 743, as introduced, Portantino. Foster care: sibling placement.

   Existing law provides for the placement of dependent children by
the juvenile court according to specified procedures. Existing law
declares the policy of the Legislature relating to foster care,
including that foster care should be a temporary method of care for
children and that reunification with the natural parent or parents or
another alternate permanent living situation such as adoption or
guardianship is more suitable to a child's well-being than is foster
care.
   This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would require foster children to be placed with, and
remain placed with, their siblings absent a legal finding that
keeping the sibling group together would be detrimental to one or
more of the children.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  It is the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would require foster children to be placed with, and
remain placed with, their siblings absent a legal finding that
keeping the sibling group together would be detrimental to one or
more of the children.