BILL NUMBER: AB 921	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 26, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 13, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Jones
    (   Coauthors:   Assembly Members 
 Ammiano,   Beall,   and Portantino  
) 

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2009

   An act to add Section 607.5 to the Welfare and Institutions Code,
relating to children.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 921, as amended, Jones.  Juvenile court jurisdiction: services
and benefits.
   Existing law provides that a minor may be adjudged a dependent
child or a ward of the juvenile court under specified circumstances.
Existing law authorizes the court to place a minor who has been
removed from the custody of his or her parent or guardian  to
be placed  in foster care among other placements, as
specified. Existing law provides for the termination of the juvenile
court when the minor reaches a specified age.
   This bill would require the juvenile court, whenever it orders a
hearing to terminate, on the basis of age, the jurisdiction of the
court over a  dependent child or  ward who was
 in foster care   previously adjudged a
dependent child of the juvenile court  , to order the 
social worker or  probation officer to provide to the
 dependent child or  ward a written notice stating
that the person is a former foster child and is eligible for the
services and benefits that are available to a former foster child
through public and private programs, and to provide to the ward all
necessary information regarding the availability of, and assistance
to enable the ward to apply for and gain acceptance into, federal and
state programs that provide independent living services and benefits
to former foster children for which the person is or may be
eligible.
   By imposing additional duties upon probation officers, this bill
would create a state-mandated local program.
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 607.5 is added to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, to read:
   607.5.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, whenever the
juvenile court orders a hearing to terminate, on the basis of age,
the jurisdiction of the court, over a  dependent child or a
ward who was in foster care at any time, the court shall order the
social worker or probation officer, as applicable, to provide to the
dependent child or   ward who was previously adjudged a
dependent child of the court pursuant to Section 300, the court shall
order the probation officer to provide to the  ward both of the
following:
   (a) A written notice stating that the person is a former foster
child and is eligible for the services and benefits that are
available to a former foster child through public and private
programs, including, but not limited to, any independent living
program for former foster children.
   (b) All necessary information regarding the availability of, and
assistance to enable the person to apply for and gain acceptance
into, federal and state programs that provide independent living
services and benefits to former foster children, including, but not
limited to, financial assistance, housing, and educational resources,
for which he or she is or may be eligible.
  SEC. 2.  If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.