Legislation
Be in the know about up-and-coming and recently passed legislation pertaining to child welfare & services. We strive for policy advocacy and system reform work. Our efforts are informed by the voices and experiences of the youth we represent. Confused on the language used? Here’s a helpful glossary created by the California State Senate!
California-Specific Legislation (PROPOSED)
Support these pieces of legislation? Let your local assemblymember or state senator know!
AB 20 Strengthening Family Connections for Adopted Children
Status: Awaiting Governor’s signature
Many children and young adults adopted through the child welfare system report that maintaining a connection to their biological family and community is critical to their well-being. This bill would strengthen family connections for adoptees when appropriate by promoting ongoing contact between siblings and allowing parental rights to be reinstated for children and nonminor dependents in foster care after an adoption has failed.
AB 448 Promoting Family Connections for Youth in Foster Care
STATUS: Awaiting Governor’s signature
Research shows that children in the foster care system who are placed with relatives have greater placement and school stability, fewer emotional and behavioral problems in placement, and more connections to their biological family and social-cultural communities. This bill would strengthen existing requirements around social workers and/or probation officers’ documentation of family finding efforts.
AB 866 Preventing Food Insecurity for Transition Age Youth
Status: Two-year bill
Transition age youth in foster care are among the most vulnerable populations in California. Through no fault of their own, these youth are often faced with a multitude of difficulties, including hunger and insufficient healthy food. This bill would allow CalFresh benefits to be provided at the maximum amount to non-minor dependents (NMDs) in Supervised Independent Living Placements (SILPs) regardless of income or resources, including NMDs who are custodial parents.
AB 867 Ensuring Youth Exiting Foster Care Can Succeed
With AB 12 (2010) and the extension of foster care to age 21, California made a commitment that youth exiting foster care have the tools, resources, and support they need to live independently. However, without proper enforcement mechanisms in the law, too many youth leave the system vulnerable to unemployment, food insecurity, and housing instability. This bill would require the county agency to make active efforts to ensure youth have housing stability before exiting the system and would give the court the ability to keep a case open past age 21 if the requirements to terminate jurisdiction have not been satisfactorily met.
Learn more here!
AB 937 Reuniting Families
STATUS: Awaiting Governor’s signature
State and federal law mandate that social workers provide services to reunify a family that has been separated by the child welfare system. However, under current law, even if a Court has found that the services were insufficient, a family who has been separated for 18- months is not guaranteed further reunification services.
This bill would state that if reasonable services have not been provided to a parent — even at the 18-month date — the court must order an additional six (6) months of reunification services. This change would resolve ambiguities in case law by specifying that family reunification timelines can be extended if reasonable services are not met
Learn more here!
AB 1756 Clarifying the Court’s Jurisdiction Following the Death of a Child
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US Legislation (PROPOSED)
Support these pieces of legislation? Let your house representative and senator know!