California Assembly Bill AB2342 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 2342AMENDED 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  .