BILL NUMBER: AB 1402	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 21, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Bass

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2009

   An act relating to family connection grants.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1402, as amended, Bass. Family connection grants.
   Existing law declares the duty of the state to care for and
protect the children that it places into foster care. Under existing
law, the State Department of Social Services has various powers and
duties relating to ensuring that the needs of foster children are met
by local child welfare agencies and foster care providers, including
relative caregivers.
   This bill would require the department to apply  , or to
support a California-based application,  for a federal matching
grant, known as a family connection grant, for the purpose of helping
children who are in, or at risk of entering, foster care reconnect
with family members, as provided for by a specified provision of
federal law.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  The State Department of Social Services shall apply
 , or shall support a California-based application,  to the
federal Secretary of Health and Human Services for a family
connection grant for the purpose of helping children who are in, or
at risk of entering, foster care reconnect with family members, as
provided for in Section 627 of Title 42 of the United States Code.