The Fostering Connections Resource Center gratefully acknowledges the National Conference of State Legislatures for sharing its tracking information about pending and enacted legislation. Please visit NCSL for additional information.
Enacted Kinship/Guardianship Legislation in California
Dependent Children & Relative Caregivers
Bill: AB 938, Chapter 261; Status: Enacted
Summary: Requires a social worker, when a child is removed from the home, to immediately begin conducting an investigation in order to identify and locate all grandparents, adult siblings, and other adult relative of the child, in order to provide those persons with specified information, including that the child has been removed from the custody of his or her parents or guardians and an explanation of various options to participate in placement of the child.
Sponsored by Assembly Judiciary Committee
Child Welfare Services for Foster Care & Adoption
Bill: SB 597, Chapter 339; Status: Enacted
Summary: Makes amendments necessary to be consistent with the requirements set forth in the federal Fostering Connections Act. These include requiring the State Department of Social Services to exercise diligence to identify and provide notice to all adult grandparents and close relatives of the child; requiring the Department, in consultation with pediatricians, health care experts, and experts in and recipients of child welfare services to develop a plan for the ongoing oversight and coordination of health care services for a child in a foster care placement; and requiring the department or licensed adoption agency to provide information regarding the federal adoption tax credit for any individual who is adopting or considering adopting a child in foster care.
Sponsored by Senator Liu
Pending Kinship/Guardianship Legislation in California
Sibling Placement in Foster Care
Bill: AB 743; Status: Pending
Summary: Amends existing law that requires a social worker who takes a minor into custody to place the minor together within any siblings or half-siblings who are detained or to include a statement as to why that placement would not be appropriate. Requires the worker to make reasonable efforts to place the minor and his or her siblings or half siblings together or to include a statement why the placement would be contrary to the safety or well being of any of the siblings.
Sponsored by Assembly Member Portantino
Family Connections Grants
Bill: AB 1402; Status: Pending
Summary: Requires the Department of Social Services to support one or more California-based applications for a federal matching grant for the purpose of helping children who are in, or at risk of entering, foster care reconnect with family members.
Sponsored by Assembly Member Bass
Sibling Placement in Foster Care
Bill: AB 743; Status: Pending-Carryover
Summary: Amends existing law that requires a social worker who takes a minor into custody to place the minor together within any siblings or half-siblings who are detained or to include a statement as to why that placement would not be appropriate. Requires the worker to make reasonable efforts to place the minor and his or her siblings or half siblings together or to include a statement why the placement would be contrary to the safety or well being of any of the siblings.
Sponsored by Assembly Member Portantino
