BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 921|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 921
Author: Jones (D), et al
Amended: 8/17/09 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE : 5-0, 6/23/09
AYES: Liu, Maldonado, Alquist, Runner, Yee
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 12-0, 8/17/09
AYES: Kehoe, Cox, Corbett, Denham, Hancock, Leno, Oropeza,
Price, Runner, Walters, Wolk, Yee
NO VOTE RECORDED: Wyland
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 78-0, 5/28/09 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : Juvenile court jurisdiction: services and
benefits
SOURCE : Childrens Advocacy Institute
DIGEST : This bill requires the juvenile court, whenever
it terminates jurisdiction over a ward, or upon release of
a ward from a non foster care facility, who was at any
point previously adjudged a dependent child of juvenile
court, to order the probation or parole officer to provide
the ward with (1) a written notice stating that he/she is a
former foster child and may be eligible for the services
and benefits that are available to former foster children
through public and private programs, including, but not
limited to, any independent living program for former
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foster children, and (2) information on 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.
ANALYSIS : 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/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 requires a probation officer or parole officer,
whenever the juvenile court terminates jurisdiction over a
ward, or upon release of a ward from a nonfoster care
facility, to provide to the person a written notice stating
that the person is a former foster child and may be
eligible for the services and benefits that are available
to a former foster child through public and private
programs, and information 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.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: Yes
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2009-10 2010-11
2011-12 Fund
State mandate: likely minor, potentially
reimbursable General
county probation costs
Independent Living ---likely very minor cost
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pressure--- General
Program
Federal
SUPPORT : (Verified 8/19/09)
Children's Advocacy Institute (source)
Aspiranet
California Coalition for Youth
California State PTA
Family Law Section of the State Bar
John Burton Foundation for Children Without Homes
Junior League of California
Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : The author's office notes that
wards are often retained longer than necessary in the
juvenile justice system because of the unavailability of
housing in the foster care system. "As a result, many
former foster youth 'age out' (become 18y ears old) while
residents in juvenile court facilities?.When this happens,
they are not 'counted' when the social service system
identifies foster youth who will be eligible to participate
in Independent Living Program services, and are generally
not made aware of those services."
According to the author's office, "although probation
officials are expected to assist these former foster youth
establish relationships with available transitional
programs and services, as a practical matter that rarely
occurs." There may be a question, therefore, as to whether
the identified problem requires a change in existing law or
is, instead, an implementation issue.
ASSEMBLY FLOOR :
AYES: Adams, Ammiano, Anderson, Arambula, Beall, Bill
Berryhill, Tom Berryhill, Blakeslee, Block, Blumenfield,
Brownley, Buchanan, Caballero, Charles Calderon, Carter,
Chesbro, Conway, Cook, Coto, Davis, De La Torre, De Leon,
DeVore, Duvall, Emmerson, Eng, Evans, Feuer, Fletcher,
Fong, Fuentes, Fuller, Furutani, Gaines, Galgiani,
Garrick, Gilmore, Hagman, Hall, Harkey, Hayashi,
Hernandez, Hill, Huber, Huffman, Jones, Knight,
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Krekorian, Lieu, Logue, Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma, Mendoza,
Miller, Monning, Nava, Niello, Nielsen, John A. Perez, V.
Manuel Perez, Portantino, Price, Ruskin, Salas, Saldana,
Silva, Skinner, Smyth, Solorio, Audra Strickland,
Swanson, Torlakson, Torres, Torrico, Tran, Villines,
Yamada, Bass
NO VOTE RECORDED: Jeffries, Nestande
RJG/CTW:cm 8/19/09 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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