BILL NUMBER: AB 1920	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 20, 2010
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 8, 2010

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Davis

                        FEBRUARY 16, 2010

   An act to add  Section 16168 to   and repeal
Section 160   15 of  the Welfare and Institutions Code,
relating to foster youth.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1920, as amended, Davis. Foster youth: personal information:
pilot program.
   Existing law  establishes the Office of the State Foster
Care Ombudsperson in the State Department of Social Services with
prescribed powers and duties relating to the management of foster
children, including the dissemination of information on the rights of
children and youth in foster care   provides for the
out-of-home placement of children who are unable to remain in the
custody and care of their parent or parents, including providing for
a range of child welfare and foster care services, at the state and
local levels. Existing law identifies the case plan as the foundation
and central unifying tool in child welfare services, and requires
various categories of information to be incorporated into a child's
case plan  .
   This bill would require the  office   State
Department of Social Services  to take all necessary steps to
establish and implement an Internet Web-based foster care document
storage pilot program and authorize the counties of Los Angeles, San
Francisco, and San Bernardino to participate in this pilot program in
accordance with the bill. The bill would provide that the pilot
program would consist of an interactive, secured Internet Web site
designed to give foster youth and  their care providers
  former foster yout   h from 15 to 21 years of
age, inclusive,  access to designated personal information of
the foster youth. The bill would require the  office
  department  to ensure that the Internet Web site
maintains the confidentiality of medical and other records on the
Internet Web site, consistent with applicable state and federal law.
   This bill would  require participating counties to report to
the Legislature, on or before October 1, 2014, on the effectiveness
of the pilot program, as specified. It would  authorize the
funding of the pilot program through private, public, or nonprofit
funding sources. 
   This bill would provide for the repeal of its provisions on
January 1, 2016. 
   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.    Section 16168 is added to the
Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:
   16168.  (a) The Office of the State Foster Care Ombudsperson

   SECTION 1.    Section 16015 is added to the 
 Welfare and Institutions Code   , to read: 
    16015.    (a)     The State
Departmen   t of Social Services  shall take all
necessary steps, including consulting with all appropriate state
 departments   departments and foster youth
advocates, including, but not limited to, California Youth
Connection, the County Welfare Directors Association of  
California (CWDA), and Living Advantage, Inc.  , to establish
and implement an Internet Web-based foster care document storage
pilot program, and authorize the counties of Los Angeles, San
Francisco, and San Bernardino to participate in this pilot program in
accordance with this section.
   (b) The pilot program established pursuant to this section shall
consist of an interactive, secured, Internet Web site, designed to
give foster youth and  their care providers  
former foster youth from 15 to 21 years of age, inclusive, 
access to the foster youth's personal information, as described in
subdivision (c).
   (c) The information maintained on the Internet Web site shall
include, but shall not be limited to, all of the following:
   (1) Birth records.
   (2) Social security numbers.
   (3) Immunization and other medical records.
   (4) School records.
   (5) Official identification cards.
   (6) Resumes.
   (d) The Internet Web site shall allow a foster child to develop a
personal database to store important telephone numbers and addresses.

   (e) The Internet Web site shall also provide information and links
to connect foster youth to appropriate resources to meet their
educational needs, independent living skills requirements, and work
needs.
   (f) The  office   department  shall
ensure that the Internet Web site maintains the confidentiality of
medical and other records on the Internet Web site, consistent with
the requirements of this section and applicable state and federal
law. 
   (g) (1) Each participating county shall prepare a report, which
shall be submitted to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of
the Legislature on or before October 1, 2014, on the effectiveness
of the pilot program in improving access to vital documents and any
problems associated with ensuring the safety of private or
confidential information of the foster youth participating in the
pilot program.  
   (2) A report required by this subdivision shall be submitted in
compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.  
   (g) 
    (h) The pilot program established under this section may
be funded through private, public, or nonprofit funding sources.

   (i) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2016, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2016, deletes or extends
that date.