BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 2228
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 21, 2014

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                     AB 2228 (Cooley) - As Amended:  May 7, 2014 

          Policy Committee:                              Human  
          ServicesVote:7 - 0 

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          Yes    Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill modernizes existing requirements for crisis nurseries  
          regarding respite services, training and qualifications for  
          caregivers, and use of volunteers.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Minor and absorbable costs to the Department of Social Services  
          to reflect changes in the licensing requirements.

           COMMENTS  


           1)Purpose  . Current law and regulations governing crisis  
            nurseries have not been updated to reflect changes made by SB  
            1214 (Wolk) Chapter 93, Statutes of 2010, prohibiting the use  
            of Crisis Nurseries for foster children, effective July 1,  
            2012. This has resulted in laws and regulations that are  
            unnecessary for crisis nurseries and increases the cost of  
            providing services for children voluntarily placed by their  
            own parents or legal guardians. 


           2)Background  . Established in 2004 by SB 855 (Machado), Chapter  
            664, Statutes of 2004, crisis nurseries were created as a  
            separate licensing category to provide a temporary housing and  
            shelter facility placement option for parents. The goal of  
            crisis nurseries is to provide an alternative voluntary  
            placement option for families with young children who are  
            facing difficult or extreme financial, health, or other  
            challenges and to prevent the need for or the engagement of  








                                                                  AB 2228
                                                                  Page  2

            child welfare services. This limits the role of crisis  
            nurseries to children under the age of six who are voluntarily  
            placed by their parent or guardian under their temporary care.  



            According to DSS, there are currently five licensed crisis  
            nurseries in California. All five are located in northern  
            California: Concord, Davis, Nevada City and two in Sacramento.  
            Since 2009, approximately 10,000 children have been served by  
            these nurseries. On average, the lengths of stay range from  
            eight hours to about 24 hours. No exemptions have been  
            requested or granted for children to stay beyond the 30-day  
            limit. 


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Jennifer Swenson / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081