BILL NUMBER: AB 921	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 17, 2009
	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 in foster
care among other placements, as specified. Existing law provides for
the termination of the juvenile court  jurisdiction  when
the minor reaches a specified age.
   This bill would require  a probation officer or parole
officer, whenever  the juvenile court  , whenever it
orders a hearing to terminate, on the basis of age, the jurisdiction
of the court   terminates jurisdiction  over a ward
 who was previously adjudged a dependent child of the
juvenile court, to order the probation officer   , or
upon release of a ward from a nonfoster care facility,  to
provide to the  ward   person  a written
notice stating that the person is a former foster child and 
is   may be  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  that informs
the person of  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.   (a)    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 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:
  the juvenile court terminates jurisdiction over a
ward, or upon release of a ward from a nonfoster care facility, a
probation officer or parole officer shall provide the person with
everything   identified in subdivisions (b) and (c). This
section shall apply to any ward who was previously adjudged a
dependent child of the court pursuant to Section 300 or a child who
at any time has been placed in foster care pursuant to Section 727.
 
   (a) 
    (b)  A written notice stating that the person is a
former foster child and  is   may be 
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 
    (c)     Information that informs the person
of  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.