Bill Text: CA AB2247 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Foster youth: case plan: placement changes.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)

Status: (Passed) 2018-09-22 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 674, Statutes of 2018. [AB2247 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB2247-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Assembly  May 25, 2018

Amended  IN  Assembly  April 02, 2018

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2247

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Introduced by Assembly Member Gipson
(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Cooley)
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Thurmond)
(Coauthors: Senators Beall and Stone)

February 13, 2018

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An act to add Section 16010.7 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to foster youth.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2247, as amended, Gipson. Foster youth: placement changes.

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. In order to be eligible for AFDC-FC, existing law requires a child or nonminor dependent to be placed in one of several specified placements. Existing law imposes certain requirements on placing agencies with regard to the placement of a dependent child, including, among others, a prohibition against a placement or a change in placement of a child outside the United States prior to a judicial finding that the placement is in the best interest of the child, except as required by federal law or treaty.

This bill would require a social worker or placing agency to implement a plan, known as the preservation plan, to preserve an existing placement prior to making a change to a dependent child’s placement. The bill would require the plan to be developed in consultation with the dependent child’s child and family team, and to include both restorative justice conflict resolution practices and facilitated mediation, meetings, as defined. If a placement change is necessary, the bill would require the social worker or placing agency to provide 15 days prior notice of the change, as specified. The bill would prohibit placement changes from occurring during specified hours. hours, except as specified. The bill would grant a child who is 10 years of age or older, or the representative of a child who is under 10 years of age, the right to notify the Office of the State Foster Care Ombudsperson if a placement change occurs in violation of these provisions. The bill would require the ombudsperson to, among other things, ensure that the account of the child or the child’s representative is documented in the case plan and investigate the complaint, as specified. The bill would authorize a social worker or placing agency to change to a dependent child’s placement without fulfilling the requirements described above if if, among other things, it is determined that remaining in the existing placement or providing prior written notice of the placement change poses a threat to the dependent child’s health and safety. The bill would express the intent of the Legislature with regard to these provisions and would make certain findings and declarations.

By increasing the duties of county social workers and placing agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 16010.7 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

16010.7.

 (a) It is the intent of the Legislature to prevent children or youth in foster care from experiencing unnecessary or abrupt placement changes that negatively impact their well-being or sense of security. It is the intent of the Legislature to preserve and strengthen the placement of a child or youth whenever possible. It is also the intent of the Legislature to ensure that placement changes do not occur due to gender, gender identity, race, or cultural differences. The Legislature finds and declares that unnecessary or abrupt placement changes undermine the essential duties that resource families have an obligation to uphold.

(b) Prior to making a change in placement, a social worker or placing agency shall develop and implement a plan to preserve the existing placement, known as the preservation plan.

(1) The preservation plan shall be developed in consultation with the dependent child’s child and family team, as defined in Section 16501.

(2) The preservation plan shall include both conflict resolution practices and facilitated mediation. meetings, and shall become part of the dependent child’s case plan, as described in Section 16501.1.

(3) For purposes of this subdivision, the following definitions shall apply:

(A) “Conflict resolution practices” means a process designed to begin a dialogue to address conflict or concerns and identify agreements or solutions. solutions, which may be incorporated as part of a meeting of a dependent child’s child and family team, as defined in Section 16501.

(B) “Facilitated mediation” meeting” means a facilitated process designed to acknowledge, address, and respond to the underlying needs of all parties. parties, which may include, but is not limited to, a meeting of a dependent child’s child and family team, as defined in Section 16501.

(c) If, after implementing the preservation plan specified in subdivision (b), the social worker or placement agency finds that a placement change is necessary, the social worker or placing agency shall serve written notice on all of the following parties at least 15 days prior to the placement change:

(1) The dependent child’s parent or guardian.

(2) The dependent child’s caregiver.

(3) The dependent child’s attorney.

(4) The dependent child, if he or she is 10 years of age or older.

(d) A placement change shall not take place between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. 7 a.m., except by the mutual agreement of all of the following persons:

(1) The dependent child, if he or she is 10 years of age or older, or the representative of the dependent child, if he or she is under 10 years of age.

(2) The dependent child’s current caregiver.

(3) The dependent child’s prospective caregiver.

(4) The dependent child’s social worker.

(e) If a placement change occurs in violation of this section, a dependent child who is 10 years of age or older or a representative of a dependent child who is under 10 years of age has the right to notify the Office of the State Foster Care Ombudsperson. The ombudsperson shall ensure that the account of the dependent child or the dependent child’s representative is documented in the dependent child’s case plan, and compare the account to the stated reason of the social worker or placing agency for the placement change. If the account conflicts with the stated reason for the placement change, the ombudsperson shall investigate the complaint pursuant to Section 16164.

(f) Notwithstanding subdivisions (b) and (c), a social worker or placing agency may change a dependent child’s placement without fulfilling the requirements of those provisions if it is determined that remaining in the existing placement or providing prior written notice of the placement change poses a threat to the dependent child’s health or safety. in either of the following circumstances:

(1) If it is determined that remaining in the existing placement or providing prior written notice of the placement change poses a threat to the dependent child’s health or safety.

(2) If the dependent child’s child and family team, as defined in Section 16501, and the dependent child, if he or she is 10 years of age or older, or the representative of the dependent child, unanimously agree to waive the requirements described in subdivisions (b) and (c).

(g) This section shall apply only to children and youth for whom the dependency court has entered a judgement pursuant to Section 360.

SEC. 2.

 To the extent that this act has an overall effect of increasing the costs already borne by a local agency for programs or levels of service mandated by the 2011 Realignment Legislation within the meaning of Section 36 of Article XIII of the California Constitution, it shall apply to local agencies only to the extent that the state provides annual funding for the cost increase. Any new program or higher level of service provided by a local agency pursuant to this act above the level for which funding has been provided shall not require a subvention of funds by the state or otherwise be subject to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.