Bill Text: CA AB770 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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

---

Bill Title: Indian tribes: foster care and adoption programs.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2009-08-06 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 124, Statutes of 2009. [AB770 Detail]

Download: California-2009-AB770-Introduced.html

---

BILL NUMBER: AB 770	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Torres
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Ammiano)

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2009

   An act to add Section 16000.5 to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to Indian tribes.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 770, as introduced, Torres. Indian tribes: foster care and
adoption programs.
   Existing law provides for child welfare services, which are public
social services directed toward, among other purposes, protecting
and promoting the welfare of all children, including those in foster
care placement. Existing law includes specified findings and
declarations of the Legislature relating to child welfare services.
   This bill would make it the policy of the state to maximize the
opportunities for Indian tribes to operate foster care programs for
Indian children pursuant to the federal Fostering Connections to
Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008. This bill would require
the State Department of Social Services to modify the state foster
care plan required under specified provisions of federal law to
implement the provisions of the federal Fostering Connections to
Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 in a manner that
maximizes the opportunities for Indian tribes to operate foster care
programs for Indian children.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 16000.5 is added to the Welfare and
Institutions Code, to read:
   16000.5.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

   (a) The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions
Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-351) provides Indian tribes with the
option, effective October 1, 2009, to operate a foster care, adoption
assistance, and, at tribal option, a kinship guardianship assistance
program under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec.
671 et seq.). The federal government will share the costs of a tribe
operating an approved Title IV-E program.
   (b) It shall be the policy of the state to maximize the
opportunities for Indian tribes to operate foster care programs for
Indian children pursuant to the federal Fostering Connections to
Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008.
   (c) The State Department of Social Services shall modify the
California state plan for Title IV-E of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. Sec. 671 et seq.), effective July 1, 2002, as amended April 1,
2003, after the adoption of final rules by the Administration for
Children and Families, to implement the provisions of the federal
Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008
in a manner to maximize the opportunities for Indian tribes to
operate foster care programs for Indian children.