California Senate Bill SB702 Introduced / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 702INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator DeSaulnier FEBRUARY 27, 2009 An act to amend Sections 11368, 11407, and 16001.7 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to children. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 702, as introduced, DeSaulnier. Public social services for children and youth. (1) Existing law, through the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program (Kin-GAP), which is a part of the CalWORKs program, provides aid on behalf of eligible children who are placed in the home of a relative caretaker. The program is funded by state and county funding and available federal funds. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to seek any necessary waiver from the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services to implement the Kin-GAP Program, and requires the Director of Social Services to execute a specified declaration relating to the scope of the waiver. This bill would require the declaration, when issued, to be submitted to the chairs of the Legislature's human services committees. Existing law establishes the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC) program, under which counties provide payments to foster care providers on behalf of qualified children in foster care. The program is funded by a combination of federal, state, and county funds. Existing law requires the department to establish regulations necessary for the state to qualify for available federal funding for certain children who are granted aid pursuant to a specified provision of existing law. This bill would require the regulations, when completed, to be submitted to the chairs of the Legislature's human services committees. (2) Existing law declares the duty of the state to care for and protect the children that it places into foster care. Under existing law, the department has various powers and duties relating to ensuring that the needs of foster children are met by local child welfare agencies and foster care providers. Existing law requires the department to contract with the California Youth Connection to provide technical assistance and outreach to current and former foster youth, including developing educational materials and forums related to foster care. This bill would require that the development of educational materials and forums by the California Youth Connection include materials about financial literacy. (3) This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to conform specified provisions of existing law relating to public social services for children with the federal Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008. 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. It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation amending the following provisions in order to conform state law with the federal Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-351): (a) Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 11360) and Article 5 (commencing with Section 11400) of Chapter 2 of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. (b) Chapter 6.2 (commencing with Section 13750) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. (c) Part 4 (commencing with Section 16000) of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. (d) Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 17730) of Part 5.5 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. SEC. 2. Section 11368 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read: 11368. (a) The department shall seek any waiver from the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services that is necessary to implement this article. (b) Any provision of this article that may only be implemented pursuant to a waiver described in subdivision (a) shall only be operative during the period for which the waiver is granted, as stated in a declaration that shall be executed by the director when the waiver is obtained.  A copy of the declaration, when issued, shall be submitted to the chairs of the Senate Human Services Committee and the Assembly Human Services Committee.  SEC. 3. Section 11407 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read: 11407. If, when and during  such   those  times  as   that  the federal statutes provide federal funds for any child who is granted aid pursuant to  subsection   subdivision  (b) of Section 11450, the department shall establish  such   any  regulations  as are  necessary for  this   the  state to qualify for any federal funds available.  A copy of the regulations, when completed, shall be submitted to the chairs of the Senate Human Services Committee and the Assembly Human Services Committee.  SEC. 4. Section 16001.7 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read: 16001.7. (a) The department shall promote the participation of current and former foster youth in the development of state foster care and child welfare policy. Subject to the availability of funds, the department shall contract with the California Youth Connection to provide technical assistance and outreach to current and former foster youth. In executing this contract, the responsibilities of the California Youth Connection shall include, but are not limited to, all of the following: (1) Providing leadership training to current and former foster youth between the ages of 14 and 21 years. (2) Providing outreach and technical assistance to current and former foster youth to form and maintain California Youth Connection chapters, including recruiting and training adult volunteer supporters. (3) Enabling foster youth to be represented in policy discussions pertinent to foster care and child welfare issues. (4) Enhancing the well-being of foster youth and increasing public understanding of foster care and child welfare issues. (5) Developing educational materials and forums related to foster care  , including materials about financial literacy  . (b) Funds provided to the California Youth Connection pursuant to the contract shall not be used for activities not allowed under federal law relating to the receipt of federal financial participation for independent living services, including, but not limited to, lobbying and litigation.