BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2474
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 2474 (Beall)
As Amended April 8, 2010
Majority vote
HUMAN SERVICES 6-0
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|Ayes:|Beall, Tom Berryhill, | | |
| |Ammiano, Hall, Logue, | | |
| |Portantino | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Extends by one year, to January 1, 2012, the sunset
provision on the requirement for certain foster family agencies
to employ one full-time social work supervisor for every eight
social workers.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes a system of community care facilities licensing,
administered by the Department of Social Services (DSS), to
license and approve out-of-home placements for abused and
neglected children.
2)Establishes foster family agencies (FFAs) as nonprofit
organizations that recruit, train, certify, and provide
support for foster parents who care for children with
intensive care needs as an alternative to group home
placement. Health and Safety Code (HSC) Section 1502.
3)Provides for the licensure and regulation of FFAs by DSS, and
applies social worker personnel requirements.
4)Reduces the FFA rate effective October 1, 2009 by 10%, and
allows FFAs flexibility in applying the reduction, provided
the amount paid to foster families providing care to foster
children was not reduced more than 10%. WIC 11463 (j).
5)Requires treatment FFAs to employ at least one full-time
social work supervisor for every eight social workers in the
agency, and sunsets this provision January 1, 2011. HSC 1506
(k).
AB 2474
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FISCAL EFFECT : None
COMMENTS :
Background: Established in 1985 as an alternative to group home
placements, FFAs are not-for-profit agencies that train, recruit
and certify foster parents. Statewide, there are an estimated
250 FFAs providing care and treatment to approximately 18,500
foster children. Initially intended as an alternative to group
home placement for children with higher service needs, FFAs now
provide placements to almost half of all foster children in
nonrelative placements in California.
FFA and other foster care provider rates were cut by 10% as part
of the state budget passed last year, effective October 1, 2009.
Acknowledging the impact of the 10% FFA rate cut, last year,
the Legislature approved, and the Governor signed SB 597 (Liu),
Chapter 339, Statutes of 2009, which included a provision
allowing treatment FFAs to adjust the ratio of social work
supervisors to social workers to the current 1:8 ratio. The
ratio change will expire, however, on January 1, 2011.
The sponsor of this bill, the California Alliance for Child and
Family Services (California Alliance), indicates that FFA rates
have been frozen for 14 of the past 19 years. According to the
California Alliance, following the 10% rate cut, many FFAs were
forced to lay off social workers, borrow operating funds, or
close their programs. This bill will provide some much needed
flexibility to FFAs within the rate-setting and community care
licensing systems, according to supporters.
Analysis Prepared by : Michelle Doty Cabrera / HUM. S. / (916)
319-2089
FN: 0004089