BILL NUMBER: AB 2342	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 28, 2010
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 15, 2010

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Evans

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2010

   An act to add Section 16523 to the Welfare and Institutions Code,
relating to foster youth.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2342, as amended, Evans. Foster youth: outreach programs.
   Existing law provides for child welfare services, which are public
social services directed toward, among other purposes, protecting
and promoting the welfare of all children, including those in foster
care placement. 
   Existing law requires the Office of the State Foster Care
Ombudsperson to be established 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 and the services
provided by the office. 
   This bill would require the  State Department of Social
Services   office  , in  consult 
 consultation  with relevant state departments,  the
State Foster Care Ombudsperson,  the Administrative Office
of the Courts, and foster youth stakeholders, to develop a resource
guide for adolescent foster youth that outlines available statewide
programs and services, and the eligibility standards for those
programs and services, as specified. This bill would require the
 department to make   office to incorporate
 the resource guide  available on its  
into its existing  Internet Web site  , in addition to a
printed format   and print publications  . This
bill would  require the department to seek public and private
grants to fund   make  the development and
distribution of the resource guide  contingent upon the office
seeking and receiving public and private grants for that purpose
 .
   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 16523 is added to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, to read:
   16523.  (a) The  State Department of Social Services
  Office of the State Foster Care Ombudsperson 
shall develop a resource guide for adolescent foster youth that
outlines available statewide programs and services, and the
eligibility standards for those programs and services. The programs
and services included in the resource guide shall include, but not be
limited to, those associated with education, health, housing, mental
health services, independent living programs, personal finance, and
career and job opportunities. 
   (b) The resource guide shall be available on the department's
Internet Web site, in addition to being available in a printed
format.  
   (b) The office shall incorporate the resource guide into its
existing Internet Web site and print publications. 
   (c) The  department   office  shall
consult with relevant state departments,  the State Foster
Care Ombudsperson,  the Administrative Office of the Courts,
and foster youth stakeholders, including, but not limited to,
California Youth Connection, to develop the resource guide.
   (d) The  department shall seek public and private grants
to fund the  development and distribution of the resource
guide  shall be contingent upon the office seeking and receiving
public and private grants for that purpose  .