Bill Text: CA SB421 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Amended

California Senate Bill 421 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Children’s Cabinet of California.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2020-02-03 - Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [SB421 Detail]

Download: California-2019-SB421-Amended.html

Amended IN Senate April 22, 2019

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 421

Introduced by Senator Pan

February 21, 2019

~~An act to add Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 96050) to Title 15 of the Government Code, relating to children’s services.~~ An act to add and repeal Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 96050) of Title 15 of the Government Code, relating to children’s services.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 421, as amended, Pan. Children’s Cabinet of California.

Existing law, the California Early Intervention Services Act, provides a statewide system of coordinated, comprehensive, family-centered, multidisciplinary, interagency programs responsible for providing appropriate early intervention services and support to all eligible infants and toddlers and their families.
This bill, to the extent that sufficient federal or private funds are deposited with the state and appropriated by the Legislature, would establish the Children’s Cabinet of California to serve, until January 1, 2025, as an advisory body responsible for improving the collaboration among agencies that provide services to the children and youth of the state. This bill would require the cabinet to be comprised of, among others, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Secretary of California Health and Human Services, the Chief Justice of California, or a designee, and the heads of various specified state agencies. The bill would require the cabinet to provide recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature every odd-numbered year.
Existing law, the California Early Intervention Services Act, requires the Secretary of the Health and Human Services Agency and the Superintendent of Public Instruction to provide a statewide system of coordinated, comprehensive, family-centered, multidisciplinary, interagency programs responsible for providing appropriate early intervention services and support to all eligible infants and toddlers and their families.
This bill would establish the Children’s Cabinet of California to consist of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Secretary of California Health and Human Services, and the head of each agency and department within the state that provides services for, or has jurisdiction over the well-being of, children, and would set forth its powers and duties, including promoting and implementing information sharing, collaboration, increased efficiency, and improved service delivery among and within the state’s child-serving agencies, departments, and organizations.

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

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

SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) The foundation of human development is formed during a child’s earlier years, and early childhood development requires a comprehensive, coordinated approach to a child’s care and learning.
(b) The education and development of children occur not only in schools but also in families, neighborhoods, communities, and our broader society.
(c) The needs of children are increasingly complex and the networks of services available to them are managed by multiple agencies and departments, often with differing goals and objectives.
(d) Government programs must collaboratively develop and implement effective, efficient, and coordinated service delivery to ensure that all of California’s children have an equal opportunity to reach their full potential.
(e) The State of California must comprehensively address the needs of each of its children and youth and provide the understanding, encouragement, support, services, and knowledge necessary for each of them to master the skills and competencies that work, life, and active citizenship require.
(f) It is critical to California’s children that issues affecting their well-being be considered at the highest level of state government.

SEC. 2.

Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 96050) is added to Title 15 of the Government Code, to read:

CHAPTER 2. Children’s Cabinet of California.
96050.
(a) The Children’s Cabinet of California is hereby established within state government, which shall serve as an advisory body responsible for improving the collaboration among agencies that provide services to the children and youth of the state.
(b) The cabinet shall advise and make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature on ways to improve the delivery of services to children and youth and their families.
(c) The cabinet shall be comprised of the following members:
(1) The Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Secretary of California Health and Human Services, who shall serve as cochairs.
(2) The Chief Justice of California, or a designee.
(3) The Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, or a designee.
(4) The Director of Social Services.
(5) The Director of Health Care Services.
(6) The State Public Health Officer.
(7) The Director of Mental Health.
(8) The Director of Alcohol and Drug Programs.
(9) The Director of Developmental Services.
(10) The Director of Child Support Services.
(11) The Attorney General.
(12) Two Members of the Assembly, as appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
(13) Two members of the Senate, as appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.
(14) Additional members that may be appointed at the will of the Governor.
(d) Staffing of the cabinet shall be a shared responsibility among the cochairs of the cabinet to the extent federal or private funds are made available for this purpose.
(e) (1) Upon the call of the cochairs, the cabinet shall meet quarterly.
(2) The cabinet may establish committees to further its work. Committees shall consist of at least one cabinet member and others as the cabinet requires.
(3) Members of the committees shall receive no compensation from the state for their services, except that they may be reimbursed for actual travel and related expenses in accordance with state policy.
(4) The cabinet shall submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature on or before October 31 of each odd-numbered year, in compliance with Section 9795, and notwithstanding Section 10231.5. The report shall include, but shall not be limited to, recommendations on ways to improve coordination of services to children, youth, and their families, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(A) Developing and implementing a shared vision and a strategic plan on how best to establish cross-agency coordination.
(B) Establishing baseline goals and benchmarks for assessing the extent to which state agencies successfully strengthen their cooperation and collaboration in providing services to children, youth, and their families.
(C) Identifying and implementing evidence-based practices for the effective and efficient delivery of services.
(D) Consolidating and coordinating existing programs for the purpose of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of delivering services to the children and the youth of this state.
96051.
(a) (1) The Children’s Cabinet of California shall be established pursuant to this chapter only after a determination has been made by the Department of Finance that federal or private funds in an amount sufficient to fully support the activities of the cabinet, including staffing of the cabinet and development and distribution of the biennial report, have been deposited with the state.
(2) The determination by the Department of Finance shall be based upon an estimate from the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Secretary of California Health and Human Services of resources needed to administer the cabinet’s duties pursuant to this chapter.
(b) Upon a determination by the Department of Finance that there are sufficient federal or private funds to fully support the activities of the cabinet as described in subdivision (a), the funds shall be made available to the cabinet for the purposes described in this chapter upon appropriation by the Legislature.
(c) Upon making a determination that sufficient funds have been deposited pursuant to this section, the Department of Finance shall file a written notice to that effect with the Chief Clerk of the Assembly and the Secretary of the Senate.
96052.
This chapter shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2025, and as of that date is repealed.

SECTION 1.Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 96050) is added to Title 15 of the Government Code, to read:
2.Children’s Cabinet of California
96050.
~~The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:~~
(a)All state agencies and programs that touch the lives of children and youth must work in a coordinated and comprehensive fashion, with an emphasis on providing a continuum of services that benefit children, from prenatal care to programs supporting successful transition to self-sufficient adulthood.
~~(b)The Legislature, in collaboration with the Governor, intends to develop and implement a shared vision among the branches of government in order to improve child and family outcomes in this state.~~
~~(c)By working collaboratively with the Governor, the Legislature intends to do all of the following:~~
~~(1)Invest in the education and skills of our children and youth.~~
~~(2)Develop a cohesive vison and plan that ensures a long-term commitment to issues regarding children and youth.~~
~~(3)Align public resources serving children and youth to support their healthy growth and development.~~
~~(4)Promote increased efficiency and improved service delivery by all government agencies that provide services to children and youth and their families.~~
96051.
(a)The Children’s Cabinet of California is hereby established within state government. The cabinet shall consist of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Secretary of California Health and Human Services, and the head of each agency and department within the state that provides services for, or has jurisdiction over the well-being of, children.
(b)The cabinet shall promote and implement information sharing, collaboration, increased efficiency, and improved service delivery among and within the state’s child-serving agencies, departments, and organizations.