BILL NUMBER: AB 743INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Portantino FEBRUARY 26, 2009 An act relating to foster care. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 743, as introduced, Portantino. Foster care: sibling placement. Existing law provides for the placement of dependent children by the juvenile court according to specified procedures. Existing law declares the policy of the Legislature relating to foster care, including that foster care should be a temporary method of care for children and that reunification with the natural parent or parents or another alternate permanent living situation such as adoption or guardianship is more suitable to a child's well-being than is foster care. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would require foster children to be placed with, and remain placed with, their siblings absent a legal finding that keeping the sibling group together would be detrimental to one or more of the children. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would require foster children to be placed with, and remain placed with, their siblings absent a legal finding that keeping the sibling group together would be detrimental to one or more of the children.