Amended in Senate August 19, 2014

Amended in Senate June 26, 2014

Amended in Assembly May 7, 2014

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 2668

Introduced by Assembly Member Quirk-Silva

February 21, 2014

An act to amend Sections 11465 and 16501.25 of, and to add Sections 16501.26, 16501.27, and 16501.28 to, the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to social services.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2668, as amended, Quirk-Silva. Foster care: nonminor dependent parents.

Existing law provides aid and services to children placed in out-of-home care through various social service programs, including Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC) and the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program (Kin-GAP). Existing law provides that, when a child is living with a parent who receives AFDC-FC or Kin-GAP benefits, the rate paid to the provider on behalf of the parent include an amount for care and supervision of the child, as specified. Existing law provides for specified payments in instances in which a child is living with a teen parent in a whole family foster home, as begin delete defined. Existing law requires, under these circumstances, end delete begin insert defined, and requires the same rate to be paid for a child living with a nonminor dependent parent who is eligible to receive AFDC-FC or Kin-GAP benefits, as specified. Existing law provides that a nonminor dependent may receive all of his or her AFDC-FC or Kin-GAP payments directly provided that he or she is living independently in a supervised placement. end insert

begin insert Existing law requires, in instances in which a child is living with a teen parent in a whole family foster home, end insert that a written shared responsibility plan be developed between the parent, his or her caregiver, and a representative of the county or other agency providing direct supervision to the caregiver. Existing law requires that, once this plan has been completed and provided to the appropriate agencies, the payment made to the caregiver be increased by an additional $200 per month to reflect the increased care and supervision of the child.

This bill, on or after July 1, 2015, would similarly authorize the development of a parenting support plan between a nonminor dependent parent who resides in a supervised independent living placement, an identified responsible adult who has agreed to act as a parenting mentor, and a representative of the county child welfare agency or probation department. The bill would begin delete authorize the end delete begin insert require a end insert nonminor dependent begin insert who develops a parenting support plan pursuant to these provisions end insert to provide begin insert a copy of end insert the plan to the county child welfare agency or probation begin delete department, at which time he or she would receive an additional aid payment of $200 per month. The end delete begin insert department and to inform these entities of any subsequent changes to the plan. The bill would require that after the completion and approval of the plan and a determination by the county agency that the identified responsible adult meets specified criteria, the payment to the nonminor dependent parent be increased by an additional $200 per month. end insert

begin insert The end insert bill would require the State Department of Social Services to convene a working group to develop and issue an all-county letter that specifies the minimum criteria a person must meet in order to serve as an identified responsible adult to a nonminor dependent parent, as specified. The bill would require a person who wishes to become an identified responsible adult to meet the minimum criteria described above, be at least 21 years of age, and undergo a criminal records check and a Child Abuse Central Index check, as specified. By increasing the duties of counties providing child welfare services, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Section 11465 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code is amended to read:

11465.  

(a) When a child is living with a parent who receives
AFDC-FC or Kin-GAP benefits, the rate paid to the provider on
behalf of the parent shall include an amount for care and
supervision of the child.

(b) For each category of eligible licensed community care
facility, as defined in Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code,
the department shall adopt regulations setting forth a uniform rate
to cover the cost of care and supervision of the child in each
category of eligible licensed community care facility.

(c) (1) On and after July 1, 1998, the uniform rate to cover the
cost of care and supervision of a child pursuant to this section shall
be increased by 6 percent, rounded to the nearest dollar. The
resultant amounts shall constitute the new uniform rate.

(2) (A) On and after July 1, 1999, the uniform rate to cover the
cost of care and supervision of a child pursuant to this section shall
be adjusted by an amount equal to the California Necessities Index
computed pursuant to Section 11453, rounded to the nearest dollar.
The resultant amounts shall constitute the new uniform rate, subject
to further adjustment pursuant to subparagraph (B).

(B) In addition to the adjustment specified in subparagraph (A),
on and after January 1, 2000, the uniform rate to cover the cost of
care and supervision of a child pursuant to this section shall be
increased by 2.36 percent, rounded to the nearest dollar. The
resultant amounts shall constitute the new uniform rate.

(3) Subject to the availability of funds, for the 2000-01 fiscal
year and annually thereafter, these rates shall be adjusted for cost
of living pursuant to procedures in Section 11453.

(4) On and after January 1, 2008, the uniform rate to cover the
cost of care and supervision of a child pursuant to this section shall
be increased by 5 percent, rounded to the nearest dollar. The
resulting amount shall constitute the new uniform rate.

(d) (1) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) to (c), inclusive, the
payment made pursuant to this section for care and supervision of
a child who is living with a teen parent in a whole family foster
home, as defined in Section 11400, shall equal the basic rate for
children placed in a licensed or approved home as specified in
subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, and subdivision (g), of Section
11461.

(2) The amount paid for care and supervision of a dependent
infant living with a dependent teen parent receiving AFDC-FC
benefits in a group home placement shall equal the infant
supplement rate for group home placements.

(3) (A) The caregiver shall provide the county child welfare
agency or probation department with a copy of the shared
responsibility plan developed pursuant to Section 16501.25 and
shall advise the county child welfare agency or probation
department of any subsequent changes to the plan. Once the plan
has been completed and provided to the appropriate agencies, the
payment made pursuant to this section shall be increased by an
additional two hundred dollars ($200) per month to reflect the
increased care and supervision while he or she is placed in the
whole family foster home.

(B) A nonminor dependent parent residing in a supervised
independent living placement, as defined in subdivision (w) of
Section 11400, begin delete may end delete begin insert who develops a written parenting support
plan pursuant to Section 16501.26 shall end insert provide the county child
welfare agency or probation department with a copy of the
begin delete parenting support plan developed pursuant to Section 16501.26 end delete
begin insert plan end insert and shall advise the county child welfare agency or probation
department of any subsequent changes to the plan. begin delete Once the plan
has been completed and provided to the appropriate agencies, the end delete
begin insert The end insert payment made pursuant to this section shall be increased by
an additional two hundred dollars ($200) per begin delete month. end delete begin insert month after
all of the following have been satisfied: end insert

begin insert

(i) The plan has been completed and provided to the appropriate
county agency.

end insert begin insert

(ii) The plan has been approved by the appropriate county
agency.

end insert begin insert

(iii) The county agency has determined that the identified
responsible adult meets the criteria specified in Section 16501.27.

end insert

(4) In a year in which the payment provided pursuant to this
section is adjusted for the cost of living as provided in paragraph
(1) of subdivision (c), the payments provided for in this subdivision
shall also be increased by the same procedures.

(5) A Kin-GAP relative who, immediately prior to entering the
Kin-GAP program, was designated as a whole family foster home
shall receive the same payment amounts for the care and
supervision of a child who is living with a teen parent they received
in foster care as a whole family foster home.

(6) On and after January 1, 2012, the rate paid for a child living
with a teen parent in a whole family foster home as defined in
Section 11400 shall also be paid for a child living with a nonminor
dependent parent who is eligible to receive AFDC-FC or Kin-GAP
pursuant to Section 11403.

SEC. 2.  

Section 16501.25 of the Welfare and Institutions Code
is amended to read:

16501.25.  

(a) For the purposes of this section, “teen parent”
means a child who has been adjudged to be a dependent child or
ward of the court on the grounds that he or she is a person described
under Section 300 or 602, or a ward of a nonrelated legal guardian
whose guardianship was established pursuant to Section 360 or
366.26, living in out-of-home placement in a whole family foster
home, as defined in subdivision (u) of Section 11400, who is a
parent. Commencing January 1, 2012, “teen parent” also means a
nonminor dependent, as defined in subdivision (v) of Section
11400, who is living in a whole family foster home, as defined in
subdivision (t) of Section 11400, and is eligible for AFDC-FC or
Kin-GAP payments pursuant to Section 11403.

(b) (1) When the child of a teen parent is not subject to the
jurisdiction of the dependency court but is in the full or partial
physical custody of the teen parent, a written shared responsibility
plan shall be developed. The plan shall be developed between the
teen parent, caregiver, and a representative of the county child
welfare agency or probation department, and in the case of a
certified home, a representative of the agency providing direct and
immediate supervision to the caregiver. Additional input may be
provided by any individuals identified by the teen parent, the other
parent of the child, if appropriate, and other extended family
members. The plan shall be developed as soon as is practicably
possible. However, if one or more of the above stakeholders are
not available to participate in the creation of the plan within the
first 30 days of the teen parent’s placement, the teen parent and
caregiver may enter into a plan for the purposes of fulfilling the
requirements of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) of subdivision
(d) of Section 11465, which may be modified at a later time when
the other individuals become available.

(2) The plan shall be designed to preserve and strengthen the
teen parent family unit, as described in Section 16002.5, to assist
the teen parent in meeting the goals outlined in Section 16002.5,
to facilitate a supportive home environment for the teen parent and
the child, and to ultimately enable the teen parent to independently
provide a safe, stable, and permanent home for the child. The plan
shall in no way limit the teen parent’s legal right to make decisions
regarding the care, custody, and control of the child.

(3) The plan shall be written for the express purpose of aiding
the teen parent and the caregiver to reach agreements aimed at
reducing conflict and misunderstandings. The plan shall outline,
with as much specificity as is practicable, the duties, rights, and
responsibilities of both the teen parent and the caregiver with regard
to the child, and identify supportive services to be offered to the
teen parent by the caregiver or, in the case of a certified home, the
agency providing direct and immediate supervision to the caregiver,
or both. The plan shall be updated, as needed, to account for the
changing needs of infants and toddlers, and in accordance with
the teen parent’s changing school, employment, or other outside
responsibilities. The plan shall not conflict with the teen parent’s
case plan. Areas to be addressed by the plan include, but are not
limited to, all of the following:

(A) Feeding.

(B) Clothing.

(C) Hygiene.

(D) Purchase of necessary items, including, but not limited to,
safety items, food, clothing, and developmentally appropriate toys
and books. This includes both one-time purchases and items needed
on an ongoing basis.

(E) Health care.

(F) Transportation to health care appointments, child care, and
school, as appropriate.

(G) Provision of child care and babysitting.

(H) Discipline.

(I) Sleeping arrangements.

(J) Visits among the child, his or her noncustodial parent, and
other appropriate family members, including the responsibilities
of the teen parent, the caregiver, and the foster family agency, as
appropriate, for facilitating the visitation. The shared responsibility
plan shall not conflict with the teen parent’s case plan and any
visitation orders made by the court.

(c) Upon completion of the shared responsibility plan and any
subsequent updates to the plan, a copy shall be provided to the
teen parent and his or her attorney, the caregiver, the county child
welfare agency or probation department, and, in the case of a
certified home, the agency providing direct and immediate
supervision to the caregiver.

(d) The shared responsibility plan requirements shall no longer
apply when the two hundred-dollar ($200) monthly payment is
made under the Kin-GAP program pursuant to Article 4.5
(commencing with Section 11360) or Article 4.7 (commencing
with Section 11385) of Chapter 2 of Part 3 to a former whole
family foster home pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 11465.

SEC. 3.  

Section 16501.26 is added to the Welfare and
Institutions Code, to read:

16501.26.  

(a) For the purposes of this section, “nonminor
dependent parent” means a nonminor dependent as described in
subdivision (v) of Section 11400, residing in a supervised
independent living placement as defined in subdivision (w) of
Section 11400, who is a parent.

(b) When the child of a nonminor dependent parent is not subject
to the jurisdiction of the dependency court, but is in the full or
partial custody of the nonminor dependent, a written parenting
support plan may be developed between the nonminor dependent
parent and an identified responsible adult who has agreed to act
as a parenting mentor to the nonminor dependent parent. The plan,
if developed, shall be developed between the nonminor dependent
parent, the identified responsible adult, and a representative of the
county child welfare agency or probation department. Additional
input may be provided by any individuals identified by the
nonminor dependent parent, the other parent of the child, if
appropriate, and other extended family members. The plan shall
be developed as soon as is practicably possible. However, if one
or more of the above stakeholders are not available to participate
in the creation of the plan within the first 30 days of the nonminor
dependent parent’s request to enter into the plan, the nonminor
dependent parent and the identified responsible adult may enter
into a plan for the purposes of fulfilling the requirements of
subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section
11465, which may be modified at a later time when the other
individuals become available.

(1) The plan shall be designed to preserve and strengthen the
nonminor dependent parent family unit, as described in Section
16002.5, to assist the nonminor dependent parent in meeting the
goals outlined in Section 16002.5, to assist the nonminor dependent
parent in maintaining a safe, stable, and permanent home for the
child, and to support the nonminor dependent parent’s educational
and employment goals. The plan shall in no way limit the nonminor
dependent parent’s legal right to make decisions regarding the
care, custody, and control of the child.

(2) The plan shall be written for the express purpose of
identifying additional support and assisting the nonminor dependent
parent in providing the best care plan for his or her child. The plan
shall outline, with as much specificity as is practicable, the ways
in which the identified responsible adult will assist the nonminor
dependent parent with regard to the child, and identify supportive
services to be offered to the nonminor dependent parent by the
identified responsible adult. The plan shall be updated, as needed,
to account for the changing needs of infants and toddlers, and in
accordance with the nonminor dependent parent’s changing school,
employment, or other outside responsibilities. The plan shall not
conflict with the nonminor dependent parent’s transitional
independent living case plan or any visitation orders made by the
court. Areas to be addressed by the plan may include, but are not
limited to, all of the following:

(A) Transportation to health care appointments, child care, and
school, as appropriate.

(B) Providing child care and babysitting.

(c) Upon completion of the parenting support plan and any
subsequent updates to the plan, a copy shall be provided to the
nonminor dependent parent and his or her attorney, the identified
responsible adult, and the county child welfare agency or probation
department.

(d) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2015.

SEC. 4.  

Section 16501.27 is added to the Welfare and
Institutions Code, to read:

16501.27.  

(a) For purposes of Section 16501.26, a person who
wishes to become an identified responsible adult to a nonminor
dependent parent shall comply with all of the following
requirements:

(1) Meet the minimum criteria established pursuant to Section
16501.28.

(2) Be at least 21 years of age.

(3) Undergo a criminal records check in accordance with Section
1522 of the Health and Safety Code.

(4) Undergo a Child Abuse Central Index check pursuant to
Section 11170 of the Penal Code.

(b) An identification card from a foreign consulate or foreign
passport shall be considered a valid form of identification for
purposes of conducting a criminal records check and fingerprint
clearance check pursuant to subdivision (a).

(c) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2015.

SEC. 5.  

Section 16501.28 is added to the Welfare and
Institutions Code, to read:

16501.28.  

Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the
Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with
Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government
Code), the department shall convene a working group no later than
February 1, 2015, that includes representatives of the County
Welfare Directors Association and child welfare advocates to
develop an all-county letter that specifies the minimum criteria a
person must meet in order to serve as an identified responsible
adult to a nonminor dependent parent. The working group shall
issue the letter to all counties by June 30, 2015.

SEC. 6.  

If the Commission on State Mandates determines that
this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to
local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made
pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division
4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.