BILL ANALYSIS
AB 921
Page 1
GOVERNOR'S VETO
AB 921 (Jones)
As Amended August 17, 2009
2/3 vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |78-0 |(May 28, 2009) |SENATE: |35-0 |(August 31, |
| | | | | |2009) |
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|ASSEMBLY: |76-0 |(September 2, | | | |
| | |2009) | | | |
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Original Committee Reference: HUM. S.
SUMMARY : Requires that, whenever a court terminates
jurisdiction over a ward or upon release of a ward from a
non-foster care facility, a probation officer or parole officer
shall give written notice to the individual, if he or she was
previously judged to be a dependent child of the court or had at
any time been placed in foster care, saying that the person is a
former foster child and may be eligible for services available
to former foster children through public and private programs,.
Requires that the person be informed of the availability of
assistance to access such services for which he or she is or may
be eligible.
The Senate amendments make technical and clarifying changes that
do not substantially change the bill as passed by the Assembly.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill provided that the court
shall order the probation officer or parole officer to give the
notice and information that this bill requires.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee:
1)Minimal reimbursable local costs, likely less than $50,000,
AB 921
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for the workload associated with probation officers providing
wards the required information and assistance.
2)Social workers are already required to provide this
information and assistance to foster youth. Therefore there
are no new costs for county child welfare departments.
COMMENTS : This bill is intended to re-connect dual status
children (who are simultaneously designated as a dependent child
and a ward), or former foster children who subsequently become
wards of the court, with transitional programs available through
the foster care system. The Senate amendments make only minor
and clarifying changes to the Assembly version of this bill.
GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE :
This bill would require county probation officers
and parole officers to ensure that minors under the
jurisdiction of the juvenile court be provided with
written notification of services and benefits they
may be eligible for upon termination of court
jurisdiction. This bill also would require
probation officers and parole officers to provide
assistance in obtaining those services and benefits.
This bill would create local mandated costs
attributable to the requirement that county
probation officers provide specified information and
assistance to juvenile wards of the court.
Given the state's severe economic climate and the
social services reductions being implemented, it is
not prudent to expand requirements imposed on state
and local governmental programs.
Analysis Prepared by : Eric Gelber / HUM. S. / (916) 319-2089
FN: 0003434