Bill Text: CA AB2767 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Foster care: caregivers: information.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2016-09-25 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 619, Statutes of 2016. [AB2767 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB2767-Chaptered.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 2767	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  619
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 25, 2016
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 25, 2016
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 18, 2016
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 24, 2016
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 16, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 12, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 18, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Lopez

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2016

   An act to amend Section 16010.4 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to foster care.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2767, Lopez. Foster care: caregivers: information.
   Existing law states the findings and declarations of the
Legislature that a caregiver of a foster child should have certain
basic information in order to provide for the needs of children
placed in his or her care, including the name, mailing address,
telephone number, and facsimile number of the child's social worker,
the social worker's supervisor, the child's attorney, and the
court-appointed special advocate, if applicable.
   This bill would additionally provide that caregivers should also
be provided with the email address of the child's social worker, the
social worker's supervisor, the child's attorney, and the
court-appointed special advocate, if applicable.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 16010.4 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
   16010.4.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

   (a) Foster parents are one of the most important sources of
information about the children in their care. Courts, lawyers, and
social workers should have the benefit of caregivers' perceptions.
Both federal and state law recognize the importance of foster parents'
participation in juvenile court proceedings. Federal law requires
that foster parents and other caregivers receive expanded
opportunities for notice, the right to participate in dependency
court review and permanency hearings, and the right to communicate
concerns to the courts. State law similarly provides that caregivers
may submit their concerns to courts in writing.
   (b) It is in the children's best interests that their caregivers
are privy to important information about them. This information is
necessary to obtain social and health services for children, enroll
children in school and extracurricular activities, and update social
workers and court personnel about important developments affecting
foster children.
   (c) Most school districts and extracurricular organizations
require proof of age before enrolling a child in their programs.
Moreover, caregivers are required to obtain a medical appointment for
their foster children within the first month of receiving the
children into their homes. It would therefore be in both the children'
s and the caregivers' best interests to be provided with any
available medical information, medications and instructions for use,
and identifying information about the children upon receiving the
children into their homes.
   (d) Caregivers should have certain basic information in order to
provide for the needs of children placed in their care, including all
of the following:
   (1) The name, mailing address, telephone number, facsimile number,
and email address of the child's social worker and the social worker'
s supervisor.
   (2) The name, mailing address, telephone number, facsimile number,
and email address of the child's attorney and court-appointed
special advocate (CASA), if any.
   (3) The name, address, and department number of the juvenile court
in which the child's juvenile court case is pending.
   (4) The case number assigned to the child's juvenile court case.
   (5) A copy of the child's birth certificate, passport, or other
identifying documentation of age as may be required for enrollment in
school and extracurricular activities.
   (6) The child's State Department of Social Services identification
number.
   (7) The child's Medi-Cal identification number or group health
insurance plan number.
   (8) Medications or treatments in effect for the child at the time
of placement, and instructions for their use.
   (9) A plan outlining the child's needs and services, including
information on family and sibling visitation.
   (e) Caregivers should have knowledge of all of the following:
   (1) Their right to receive notice of all review and permanency
hearings concerning the child during the placement.
   (2) Their right to attend those hearings or submit information
they deem relevant to the court in writing.
   (3) The "Caregiver Information Form" (Judicial Council Form
JV-290), which allows the caregiver to provide information directly
to the court.
   (4) Information about and referrals to any existing services,
including transportation, translation, training, forms, and other
available services.
   (5) The caregiver's obligation to cooperate with any
reunification, concurrent, or permanent planning for the child.
   (6) Any known siblings or half-siblings of the child, whether the
child has, expects, or desires to have contact or visitation with any
or all siblings, and how and when caregivers facilitate the contact
or visitation.
   (f) Courts should know, at the earliest possible date, the
interest of the caretaker in providing legal permanency for the
child.