Bill Text: CA SB368 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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

---

Bill Title: Developmental services: decisionmaking.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2011-10-04 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 471, Statutes of 2011. [SB368 Detail]

Download: California-2011-SB368-Introduced.html

---

BILL NUMBER: SB 368	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Liu

                        FEBRUARY 15, 2011

   An act to add Section 1529.3 to the Health and Safety Code,
relating to foster care.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 368, as introduced, Liu. Foster parent training: teen foster
youth.
   Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to
license community care facilities, including facilities that provide
foster care services for children. A violation of community care
facility provisions is a misdemeanor. Existing law regulates foster
family homes and provides for their licensure by certified foster
family agencies, the county, or the State Department of Social
Services. Existing law requires every licensed foster parent to
complete specified preplacement training and additional annual
training.
   This bill would require the training for licensed foster parents
to also include specified training in issues relevant to providing
foster care for teenagers. The training required by the bill would be
included within existing preplacement and postplacement training
program requirements, and would not increase the number of required
training hours for the foster parent. By changing the definition of a
crime, this bill would create 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.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


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

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares as follows:
   (a) Persons desiring to provide, or continue to provide, foster
care should receive training in order to assist them in being
effective substitute caregivers, and to enhance the safety and growth
of the children placed with them.
   (b) There is a need to develop a basic curriculum, a program for
continuing education, and specialized training for foster parents
caring for children with unique needs.
  SEC. 2.  Section 1529.3 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to
read:
   1529.3.  (a) As a part of the training required by this article,
if a foster parent intends to begin or continue to care for youth 14
years of age or older, in order to provide the foster parent with the
skills and expertise to care for this important population, the
foster parent shall receive training in issues relevant to teenagers,
including, but not limited to, all of the following subjects:
   (1) Education rights.
   (2) Accessing independent living program services and assisting
the teenager with independent living skills.
   (3) College acceptance and financial aid.
   (4) Drug prevention.
   (5) Financial literacy.
   (6) Avoiding teen-parent conflict.
   (b) The training required pursuant to this section shall be
included within existing preplacement and postplacement training
program requirements, and shall not increase the number of required
training hours for the foster parent.
  SEC. 3.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.