Developmental disabilities.
By adjusting the reimbursement rates within the foster care system, AB 2634 aims to ensure that children with developmental disabilities receive appropriate levels of care and supervision. Specifically, it establishes a higher rate for out-of-home care for these children, with provisions allowing counties to authorize additional supplemental payments for those whose care needs are extraordinary and cannot be adequately met within the standard funding structure. This bill aligns with the goal of enhancing the services available to vulnerable populations in California.
Assembly Bill 2634, introduced by Assembly Member Davies, is focused on children with developmental disabilities who are also recipients of various state assistance programs such as the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC), Approved Relative Caregiver Funding Program (ARC), and Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment (Kin-GAP). The bill seeks to amend the California Welfare and Institutions Code to better address the unique needs of these children, acknowledging that they require specialized care that goes beyond standard foster care provisions.
There may be areas of contention surrounding the fiscal implications of the bill, particularly regarding how the increased funding requirements will impact county budgets and the sustainability of these payments. Additionally, discussions may arise around how effectively the criteria for determining exceptional care needs are established and applied, which could affect the fairness of supplement distribution among caregivers. The goal of clarifying the roles of different support systems, while necessary, may also present bureaucratic challenges in implementation.