BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE
Senator Carol Liu, Chair
BILL NO: SB 945
S
AUTHOR: Liu
B
VERSION: March 8, 2010
HEARING DATE: April 13, 2010
9
FISCAL: Public Safety; Appropriations
4
5
CONSULTANT:
Hailey
SUBJECT
Juvenile court jurisdiction: services and benefits
SUMMARY
Requires probation and parole offices to provide
notification to a juvenile ward, at the time the court
terminates jurisdiction, that he or she is eligible to
benefits and services available to other former foster
children.
ABSTRACT
Current law :
1) Provides child welfare services to dependent children
and to wards of the court in the event that their natural
parents are unable to provide care and supervision. (Cf.
Sections 300 et seq., Welfare and Institutions Code,
dependent children; Sections 600 et seq., Welfare and
Institutions Code, wards.)
2) Provides specific services and benefits to these
dependent children and wards of the court upon return to
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their parents or upon their emancipation.
This bill :
1) Makes findings and declarations relative to wards of
the juvenile court who are also designated as dependents,
including the Legislature's intention to reduce the
criminal activity of these individuals and to encourage
their academic success by ensuring that they are aware of
their eligibility for services and benefits available to
former foster children.
2) Requires probation officers and parole officers, when
the juvenile court terminates jurisdiction of a ward, to
provide the youth with both of the following
a written notice stating that he or she is a former
foster child and may be eligible for the services and
benefits available to other former foster children,
and
information that informs the former ward of the
availability of and assistance to apply for federal
and state programs that provide independent living
services and other benefits to former foster children.
FISCAL IMPACT
Unknown.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Need for the bill
The author believes that the bill will result in youth
learning about and using supportive services that may
mitigate or reduce their current risk of limited academic
achievement and of continued encounters with the criminal
justice system.
Committee philosophy during past decade
It has been the general policy of the Senate Human Services
Committee and, before that, the Senate Health and Human
Services Committee, to work with authors to ensure that
foster children and former foster children - whether wards
or dependents - have access to the same services and
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benefits. This bill would add a mechanism for a former
ward to know what benefits and services he or she may be
eligible to receive.
Note about double referral
The Senate Rules Committee has referred this bill to the
Human Services Committee and to the Committee on Public
Safety. To meet legislative deadlines, any amendments
agreed to in the Human Services Committee should be
proposed and adopted in the Public Safety Committee if a
motion and a vote move the bill forward.
COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS
Suggested clarification
In its letter of support, the executive committee of the
family law section of the state bar suggests a clarifying
amendment to 607.5 (b), which is found on page 3, lines
24-27. The letter notes that "not all dependent children
are 'former foster children' under the definitions set
forth in federal law. To avoid confusion, [we] believe the
language should read: 'This section shall apply to any ward
who was previously adjudged a dependent child of the court
pursuant to Section 300 and placed in foster care, or any
ward who at any time has been placed in foster care
pursuant to Section 727.'"
POSITIONS
Support: Children's Advocacy Institute (sponsor)
Aspiranet
Executive Committee, Family Law Section, State
Bar of California
Public Counsel Law Center
Oppose: None received
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