BILL NUMBER: AB 403INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Mark Stone FEBRUARY 19, 2015 An act relating to foster care. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 403, as introduced, Mark Stone. Foster care. Existing law declares the intent of the Legislature to preserve and strengthen a child's family ties whenever possible, removing the child from the custody of his or her parents only when necessary for his or her welfare or for the safety and protection of the public. Existing law includes various provisions relating to appropriate placement and other services for children in foster care. This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would reform the continuum of care for youth in foster care in the areas of placement setting, accreditation, temporary transition strategies, foster family agency licensure, provision of core services, residential treatment service provisions, residential treatment center employment requirements, rates, program auditing, and performance measures and transparency. 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 reform the continuum of care for youth in foster care in the areas of placement setting, accreditation, temporary transition strategies, foster family agency licensure, provision of core services, residential treatment service provisions, residential treatment center employment requirements, rates, program auditing, and performance measures and transparency.