Our Bill Priorities

Web Report

 
  AB 81 (Ramos D)   Indian children: child custody proceedings.
  Current Text: Amended: 6/18/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 6/20/2024-S. RLS.
  Summary: Current federal law, the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA), governs the proceedings for determining the placement of an Indian child when that child is removed from the custody of the child’s parent or guardian. Current law states findings and declarations of the Legislature regarding Indian children, including that the state is committed to protecting the essential tribal relations and best interest of an Indian child by promoting practices in accordance with the ICWA, and it is in the interest of an Indian child that the child’s membership or citizenship in the child’s Indian tribe and connection to the tribal community be encouraged and protected, and requires the court to consider those findings in all Indian child custody proceedings. This bill would add to those findings and declarations by stating that the State of California is committed to protecting essential tribal relations by recognizing a tribe’s right to protect the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens.
  Position Letters:
Support Letter - AJUD
      Position         
      Support         
 
  AB 274 (Bryan D)   CalWORKs: CalFresh: eligibility: income exclusions.
  Current Text: Amended: 9/8/2023   html   pdf
  Location: 9/14/2023-S. 2 YEAR
  Summary: Would exempt any grant, award, scholarship, loan, or fellowship benefit provided to any assistance unit member for educational purposes from consideration as income or resources for purposes of determining CalWORKs eligibility or grant amounts, as specified. The bill would also require, to the extent permitted by federal law, regulation, or guidance, or a waiver thereof, the State Department of Social Services to exercise a federal option to exclude, for purposes of calculating a household’s income under CalFresh, any type of income that the department excludes when determining eligibility or benefits for CalWORKs. This bill would require the department to implement these provisions through an all-county letter or similar instruction until regulations are adopted. By expanding the scope of eligibility for CalWORKs and CalFresh, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
      Position         
      Support         
 
  AB 438 (Rubio, Blanca D)   Pupils with exceptional needs: individualized education programs: postsecondary goals and transition services.
  Current Text: Amended: 3/5/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 3/6/2024-S. THIRD READING
  Summary: Current law requires local educational agencies to identify, locate, and assess individuals with exceptional needs and to provide those pupils with a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment, with special education and related services as reflected in an individualized education program. Current law requires, beginning not later than the first individualized education program to be in effect when a pupil is 16 years of age, or younger if determined appropriate by the individualized education program team, and updated annually thereafter, the individualized education program to include appropriate measurable postsecondary goals and transition services, as defined, needed to assist the pupil in reaching those goals. This bill would instead require an individualized education program, commencing July 1, 2025, to include measurable postsecondary goals and transition services, if determined appropriate by a pupil’s individualized education program team, beginning when an individual with exceptional needs is starting their high school experience and not later than the first individualized education program to be in effect when the pupil is 16 years of age, as provided.
      Position         
      Support         
 
  AB 1186 (Bonta D)   Restitution fines.
  Current Text: Amended: 6/24/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 7/2/2024-S. APPR.
  Summary: Current law requires a court, when a defendant is convicted of a crime, to order the defendant to pay restitution to the victim or victims, and to additionally pay a restitution fine to be deposited in the Restitution Fund. Current law generally provides for the compensation of victims and derivative victims of specified types of crimes by the California Victim Compensation Board from the Restitution Fund. This bill would make the outstanding balance of any restitution fines, including any collection fees, unenforceable and uncollectible 10 years after the date of imposition of an order for a restitution fine.
  Position Letters:

Support Letter - APUBS
      Position         
      Support         
 
  AB 1818 (Jackson D)   Public postsecondary education: overnight student parking: pilot program.
  Current Text: Amended: 7/3/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 7/3/2024-S. APPR.
  Summary: Current law establishes the California Community Colleges and the California State University as 2 of the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in the state. Current law requests the campuses of the California Community Colleges, and requires the campuses of the California State University, to give priority housing to current and former homeless youth, as specified. This bill would require the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the Chancellor of the California State University to establish pilot programs to allow overnight parking by eligible students, as defined, and would require the chancellors, with the participation of student representatives, and, for the community college pilot program, with the additional participation of community college district leaders, to determine a plan of action for implementing the pilot program that includes, among other things, the issuance of an overnight parking permit. This bill would also require an eligible student who participates in the pilot program to be granted access to overnight parking until the student is provided access to a suitable alternative, including, among other things, a hotel voucher through a public agency or community organization.
  Position Letters:


      Position         
      Support         
 
  AB 1876 (Jackson D)   Developmental services: individual program plans and individual family service plans: remote meetings.
  Current Text: Introduced: 1/22/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 7/3/2024-S. APPR.
  Summary: The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, requires the State Department of Developmental Services to contract with regional centers for the provision of community services and supports for persons with developmental disabilities and their families. Current law, until June 30, 2024, requires a meeting regarding the provision of services and supports by the regional center, including a meeting to develop or revise a consumer’s individual program plan (IPP), to be held by remote electronic communications if requested by the consumer or, if appropriate, if requested by the consumer’s parents, legal guardian, conservator, or authorized representative. The California Early Intervention Services Act, provides a statewide system of coordinated, comprehensive, family-centered, multidisciplinary, and interagency programs that are responsible for providing appropriate early intervention services and supports to all eligible infants and toddlers and their families. Under the act, direct services for eligible infants and toddlers and their families are provided by regional centers and local educational agencies. The act requires an eligible infant or toddler receiving services under the act to have an individualized family service plan (IFSP), as specified. This bill, beginning January 1, 2025, would indefinitely extend the requirements that, if requested, IPP and IFSP meetings be held by remote electronic communications. By extending a requirement for local educational agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
  Position Letters:


      Position         
      Support         
 
  AB 1877 (Jackson D)   Juveniles: sealing records.
  Current Text: Amended: 3/19/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 7/1/2024-S. APPR. SUSPENSE FILE
  Summary: Current law requires the juvenile court to order the petition of a minor who is subject to the jurisdiction of the court dismissed if the minor satisfactorily completes a term of probation or an informal program of supervision, as specified, and requires the court to seal all records pertaining to that dismissed petition in the custody of the juvenile court and in the custody of law enforcement agencies, the probation department, or the Department of Justice in accordance with a specified procedure. Current law also generally authorizes a person who is the subject of a juvenile court record, or the county probation officer, to petition the court to seal the person’s records, including records of arrest, relating to the person’s case in the custody of the juvenile court and the probation officer and any other agencies, including law enforcement agencies and public officials. This bill would require a county probation officer, once a person who was the subject of a petition has reached 18 years of age and the juvenile court’s jurisdiction has been terminated, to petition the court to seal certain records, as specified. The bill would require the court to order all records sealed if the court finds that the person has not been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude after the juvenile court’s jurisdiction was terminated, as specified. If the probation officer does not file a petition, the bill would require the probation officer to notify the person and their counsel of the reason for not filing the petition.
  Position Letters:
Support Letter SEN PUBS
      Position         
      Support         
 
  AB 1952 (Dixon R)   Foster care: infant supplement.
  Current Text: Introduced: 1/29/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 5/16/2024-A. DEAD
  Summary: Current law requires, when a child is living with a parent who receives the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC) or Kin-GAP benefits, or the Approved Relative Caregiver Funding Program (ARC) payments, that the rate paid to the foster care provider on behalf of the parent include an additional amount, known as an infant supplement, for the care and supervision of the child. This bill would increase the infant supplement by $517.24 monthly, to be adjusted as specified for inflation and subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act. To the extent the bill would impose new requirements on counties administering the AFDC-FC or Kin-GAP benefits or ARC payments, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
  Position Letters:
AB 1952 (Dixon) Asm APPR 4.5.24
AB 1952 (Dixon) AsmHUM 3.19.24
AB 1952 (Dixon) Fact Sheet
      Position         
      Support         
 
  AB 2108 (Ramos D)   Foster care: missing children and nonminor dependents.
  Current Text: Amended: 5/30/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 7/2/2024-S. APPR.
  Summary: Current law subjects a minor between 12 and 17 years of age, inclusive, who violates any federal, state, or local law or ordinance to, and a minor under 12 years of age who is alleged to have committed specified serious offenses to, the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which may adjudge the minor to be a ward of the court. Current law generally provides for the placement of foster youth in various placement settings and governs the provision of child welfare services, as specified. Current law requires county child welfare agencies and probation departments to develop and implement specific protocols to expeditiously locate any child or nonminor dependent missing from foster care, including, but not limited to, the timeframe for reporting missing youth and the individuals or entities entitled to notice that a youth is missing. Current law requires the social worker or probation officer to determine the primary factors that contributed to the child or nonminor dependent running away or otherwise being absent from care, among other things. This bill, the Luke Madrigal Act, would, among other things, additionally require the social worker or probation officer, when they receive information that a child receiving child welfare services is absent from foster care, to immediately, but in no case later than 24 hours from the receipt of that information, notify specified entities or persons, including the local law enforcement agency and the child’s or nonminor dependent’s parents or guardians, except as specified.
  Position Letters:
AB 2108 (Ramos) Sen HUM 5.31.24
AB 2108 (Ramos) Asm APPR
AB 2108 (Ramos) Asm HUM Support Ltr Template
AB 2108 (Ramos) Asm HUM
      Position         
      Sponsored         
 
  AB 2110 (Arambula D)   Medi-Cal: Adverse Childhood Experiences trauma screenings: providers.
  Current Text: Introduced: 2/5/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 5/16/2024-A. DEAD
  Summary: Current law requires that Medi-Cal provider payments and payments for specified non-Medi-Cal programs be reduced by 10% for dates of service on and after June 1, 2011, and conditions implementation of those payment reductions on receipt of any necessary federal approvals. Current law, for dates of service on and after July 1, 2022, authorizes the maintenance of the reimbursement rates or payments for specified services, including, among others, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) trauma screenings and specified providers, using General Fund or other state funds appropriated to the State Department of Health Care Services as the state share, at the payment levels in effect on December 31, 2021, as specified, under the California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016 that were implemented with funds from the Healthcare Treatment Fund, as specified. Current law requires the department to develop the eligibility criteria, methodologies, and parameters for the payments and rate increases maintained, and would authorize revisions, as specified. This bill would require the department, as part of its above-described duties, to include (1)community-based organizations and local health jurisdictions that provide health services through community health workers and (2)doulas, that are enrolled Medi-Cal providers, as providers qualified to provide, and eligible to receive payments for, ACEs trauma screenings pursuant to the provisions described above. The bill would require the department to file a state plan amendment and seek any federal approvals it deems necessary to implement these provisions and condition implementation on receipt of any necessary federal approvals and the availability of federal financial participation.
  Position Letters:


      Position         
      Support         
 
  AB 2112 (Muratsuchi D)   Expanded Learning Opportunities Program: stakeholder working group.
  Current Text: Amended: 6/6/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 7/1/2024-S. APPR. SUSPENSE FILE
  Summary: Current law establishes the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program. Current law authorizes a local educational agency that elects to operate an expanded learning opportunity program to operate a before school component of a program, an after school component of a program, or both, as specified. This bill would require, on or before February 1, 2025, the Superintendent of Public Instruction to convene an Expanded Learning Opportunities Program stakeholder working group, or leverage an existing expanded learning workgroup in the State Department of Education, to provide recommendations on the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program to the relevant fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature no later than November 1, 2025, as provided.
  Position Letters:
Support Letter SEN ED

Fact Sheet
      Position         
      Support         
 
  AB 2137 (Quirk-Silva D)   Homeless and foster youth.
  Current Text: Amended: 6/11/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 6/17/2024-S. APPR. SUSPENSE FILE
  Summary: Current law establishes the Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program, under the administration of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The program authorizes a county office of education, or a consortium of county offices of education, to apply to the Superintendent for grant funding to operate an education-based foster youth services coordinating program. If sufficient funds are available, current law requires each foster youth services coordinating program to identify at least one person as the foster youth educational services coordinator, who is responsible for facilitating educational support, as specified, to any pupil in foster care residing or attending school in the county or consortium of counties. As a condition of receiving funds, current law requires a foster youth services coordinating program to develop and implement a foster youth services plan that includes, among other things, authorization of a school district, when specified conditions apply, to enter into a temporary agreement with the foster youth services coordinating program to provide tutoring, mentoring, and counseling services to pupils, as provided. This bill instead would authorize a foster youth services coordinating program to provide tutoring, mentoring, and counseling services to a foster youth pupil, if a foster youth educational services coordinator determines, as specified, that the foster youth services coordinator is unable to secure those services provided by the foster youth pupil’s school district and if those services are established as needed and identified by the foster youth educational services coordinator.
  Position Letters:
AB 2137 (Quirk-Silva) Asm APPR 4.29.24
AB 2137 (Quirk-Silva) Asm HUM 4.15.24
AB 2137 (Quirk-Silva) AsmEd 3.19.24
      Position         
      Support         
 
  AB 2176 (Berman D)   Juvenile court schools: chronic absenteeism rates.
  Current Text: Amended: 5/23/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 6/27/2024-S. THIRD READING
  Summary: Current law creates the Office of Youth and Community Restoration within the California Health and Human Services Agency to promote trauma-responsive, culturally informed services for youth involved in the juvenile justice system, as specified. Existing law grants the office the responsibility and authority to, among other things, report on youth outcomes, identify and disseminate best practices, and report annually on the work of the office. Current law requires the office to have an ombudsperson and authorizes the ombudsperson to, among other things, investigate complaints from youth. Current law requires the ombudsperson to publish and provide regular reports to the Legislature regarding data collected concerning, among other things, complaints received, and investigations performed by the ombudsperson. Current law requires county boards of education to provide for the administration and operation of public schools in juvenile halls, juvenile ranches, and juvenile camps, among others, known as juvenile court schools. This bill would also require the office to develop an annual report on chronic absenteeism rates in juvenile court schools. The bill would, subject to available funding, require the office to investigate the reasons for absenteeism at juvenile court schools with chronic absenteeism rates of 15% or more.
  Position Letters:
Support letter for Sen Pub Safety
      Position         
      Support         
 
  AB 2181 (Gipson D)   Juvenile court school pupils: graduation requirements and continued education options.
  Current Text: Amended: 6/6/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 7/1/2024-S. APPR. SUSPENSE FILE
  Summary: Under current law, if a pupil completes the statewide coursework requirements for graduation while attending a juvenile court school, a county office of education is required to issue to the pupil a diploma of graduation and is prohibited from requiring the pupil to complete coursework or other requirements that are in addition to the statewide coursework requirements. Current law, notwithstanding that requirement that the county office of education issue a diploma of graduation, permits the pupil to take coursework or other requirements adopted by the county board of education, and to defer the granting of the diploma until the pupil is released from the juvenile detention facility, as provided. Upon the release from a juvenile detention facility of a pupil who is entitled to a diploma, current law authorizes that pupil to elect to decline the issuance of the diploma for the purpose of enrolling the pupil in a school operated by a local educational agency to take additional coursework, as specified. Current law requires county offices of education to comply with specified notice and consultation procedures for these pupils, and to grant a diploma under specified circumstances, as provided. This bill would revise and recast these provisions by, among other things, requiring a county office of education to exempt from all coursework or other requirements of the county office of education that are in addition to the statewide coursework requirements a pupil who (1) transfers into a juvenile court school any time after the completion of the pupil’s 2nd year of high school, (2) completes the statewide coursework requirements for graduation while attending a juvenile court school, and (3) is in their 3rd or 4th year of high school, unless the county office of education makes a finding that the pupil is reasonably able to complete these local graduation requirements in time to graduate from high school by the end of the pupil’s 4th year of high school. The bill would require the county office of education to notify a pupil who may qualify for the exemption from local graduation requirements, the person holding the right to make educational decisions for the pupil, and the pupil’s social worker and probation officer of the availability of the exemption and whether the pupil qualifies for the exemption, within 30 calendar days of the date that the pupil transfers into a juvenile court school for an enrollment period in the juvenile court school of at least 30 days, as provided.
  Position Letters:
Sen Ed Support Letter
      Position         
      Support         
 
  AB 2229 (Wilson D)   California Healthy Youth Act: menstrual health education.
  Current Text: Amended: 4/8/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 6/24/2024-S. APPR. SUSPENSE FILE
  Summary: The California Healthy Youth Act requires school districts, defined to include county boards of education, county superintendents of schools, the California School for the Deaf, the California School for the Blind, and charter schools, to ensure that all pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, receive comprehensive sexual health education and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention education, as specified. The act defines “comprehensive sexual health education” for these purposes to mean education regarding human development and sexuality, including education on pregnancy, contraception, and sexually transmitted infections. This bill would additionally include in that definition of “comprehensive sexual health education” the topic of menstrual health.
  Position Letters:




      Position         
      Support         
 
  AB 2354 (Bonta D)   Criminal procedure: sentencing.
  Current Text: Amended: 3/18/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 5/16/2024-A. DEAD
  Summary: Current law allows a person who was arrested or convicted of a nonviolent offense while they were a victim of human trafficking, intimate partner violence, or sexual violence, to petition the court, under penalty of perjury, for vacatur relief. Current law requires, to receive that relief, that the crime for which the person was arrested or convicted was a nonviolent offense and that the person establish, by clear and convincing evidence, that the arrest or conviction was the direct result of being a victim of human trafficking, intimate partner violence, or sexual violence. Existing law authorizes the court to vacate the conviction if it concludes that the petitioner was a victim of one of those crimes at the time of the alleged commission of the offense, the arrest was a direct result of being a victim of that offense, and the vacatur is in the best interest of justice. This bill would allow that relief for a person arrested or convicted of any offense. The bill would also authorize relief for a person whose offense was related, rather than directly related, to being a victim of human trafficking, intimate partner violence, or sexual violence. The bill would remove the requirement that the court find that vacating the conviction is in the best interest of justice in order to vacate the arrest or conviction.
  Position Letters:
Support Letter
      Position         
      Support         
 
  AB 2441 (Kalra D)   School safety: mandatory notifications.
  Current Text: Amended: 7/3/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 7/3/2024-S. APPR.
  Summary: Current law provides that a person who willfully disturbs a public school or a public school meeting is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not more than $500.The bill would exempt from those misdemeanor and fine provisions a person who, at the time of the disturbance, is a pupil of the school district.
  Position Letters:
Support Letter - SEN ED - 6.10.2024
Support Letter
      Position         
      Support         
 
  AB 2459 (Wilson D)   Juveniles: mentoring programs.
  Current Text: Amended: 4/17/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 5/16/2024-A. DEAD
  Summary: Current law generally provides for the placement of foster youth in various placement settings. Current law requires the status of every dependent child in foster care to be reviewed periodically, and requires the county welfare department social worker to prepare a supplemental report with supplemental information regarding the child for purposes of the status review hearing. Current law also requires a probation officer to prepare a social study for purposes of the status review hearing of a ward who is placed in foster care or recommended for placement in foster care. This bill would require the social worker and probation officer to include in the supplemental report or social study, respectively, information regarding voluntary mentoring services for the foster youth, as specified.
  Position Letters:



      Position         
      Support         
 
  AB 2466 (Carrillo, Wendy D)   Medi-Cal managed care: network adequacy standards.
  Current Text: Amended: 4/18/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 5/16/2024-A. DEAD
  Summary: Current law authorizes the Director of Health Care Services to terminate a contract or impose sanctions if the director finds that a Medi-Cal managed care plan fails to comply with contract requirements, state or federal law or regulations, or the state plan or approved waivers, or for other good cause. Current law establishes, until January 1, 2026, certain time and distance and appointment time standards for specified Medi-Cal managed care covered services, consistent with federal regulations relating to network adequacy standards, to ensure that those services are available and accessible to enrollees of Medi-Cal managed care plans in a timely manner, as specified. Under this bill, a Medi-Cal managed care plan would be deemed to be not in compliance with the appointment time standards if either (1) fewer than 85% of the network providers had an appointment available within the standards or (2) the department receives information establishing that the plan was unable to deliver timely, available, or accessible health care services to enrollees, as specified. Under the bill, failure to comply with the appointment time standard may result in contract termination or the issuance of sanctions as described above.
  Position Letters:
AB 2466 (Carrillo) Asm APPR 4.29.24
AB 2466 (Carrillo) Asm HLTH 4.5.24
      Position         
      Support         
 
  AB 2477 (Zbur D)   Foster care: independent living.
  Current Text: Amended: 4/4/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 6/18/2024-S. THIRD READING
  Summary: Current law establishes the Independent Living Program (ILP), which has among its purposes providing training in daily living skills, budgeting, locating and maintaining housing, and career planning for foster youth up to 21 years of age. Current federal law authorizes a state, under certain circumstances, to expand eligibility for the ILP to former foster youth who have not attained 23 years of age. Current law requires the State Department of Social Services, with the approval of the federal government, to amend the foster care state plan to permit all eligible children to be served by the ILP up to 21 years of age. Current law authorizes a child who is declared a ward or dependent child of the court who is 16 years of age or older, or a nonminor dependent, as defined, who is participating in a transitional independent living case plan to retain resources with a combined value of $10,000, consistent with federal law, and still remain eligible to receive public social services. Current law requires the written approval of a child’s probation officer or social worker for withdrawal of the child’s savings, as specified. Current law establishes the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC) program, under which counties provide payments to foster care providers on behalf of qualified children in foster care. This bill would remove that monetary value limit and instead allow those nonminor dependents to retain resources consistent with federal law. The bill would prohibit those resources from being evaluated after the initial determination for the same foster care episode to determine continued eligibility for a foster care maintenance payment.
  Position Letters:
Ab 2477 (Zbur) Asm APPR Co-Sponsor Ltr 4.4.24
AB 2477 (Zbur) Asm HUM Support Ltr Template
AB 2477 (Zbur) Asm HUM Co-Sponsor Ltr
      Position         
      Sponsored         
 
  AB 2508 (McCarty D)   Student financial aid: California Kids Investment and Development Savings (KIDS) Program: foster youth.
  Current Text: Amended: 4/1/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 7/2/2024-S. APPR.
  Summary: This bill, commencing with the 2025–26 fiscal year and subject to an appropriation by the Legislature, would (1) require a KIDS Account to be opened for a pupil who is a foster youth and is enrolled in any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, at a school district, public charter school, state special school, or other local educational agency, if an account has not already been established for them, and would require the account to receive a one-time enhanced deposit of $500, and (2) authorize an additional enhanced deposit of $500 for those foster youth who did not previously receive the above-described deposits for unduplicated pupils in the 2021–22 fiscal year and unduplicated pupils in the first grade commencing with the 2022–23 fiscal year, as provided. The bill would limit the one-time enhanced deposits provided by the bill to the KIDS Accounts of those foster youth that had not already received one of the above-described enhanced deposits for foster youth. The bill would, commencing with the 2025–26 fiscal year, require the Scholarshare Investment Board (board) to collaborate with the State Department of Education to establish a process to enable a foster youth pupil who met any of the above-described eligibility criteria related to enhanced deposits for foster youth, but who did not receive the applicable enhanced deposit due to a failure in the identification process, to subsequently receive the enhanced deposit.
  Position Letters:





      Position         
      Support         
 
  AB 2520 (Ramos D)   Housing: youth-specific processes and coordinated entry systems.
  Current Text: Amended: 3/21/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 5/16/2024-A. DEAD
  Summary: Current law establishes the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program, administered by the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency, for the purpose of providing jurisdictions, as defined, with one-time grant funds to support regional coordination and expand or develop local capacity to address their immediate homelessness challenges, as specified. Current law requires the council, upon appropriation, to distribute certain amounts, as specified, for purposes of the program. Current law requires an applicant to submit an application containing specified information in order to apply for a program allocation. Current law requires an applicant to prioritize finds received to specific programs, including to create youth-specific coordinated entry systems and improve assessment tools. This bill would require a continuum of care, upon appropriation and beginning with the 2026–27 fiscal year, to create or maintain a youth-specific process with their respective coordinated entry system, as specified, implement a youth-specific assessment tool, create a body or identify an existing body composed of youth with lived experience of homelessness that the continuum of care and other Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program grantees must consult with regularly, and create an array of youth-specific housing inventory. The bill would require the continuum of care to document in their application how the housing assessment is youth-specific and their prioritization policy if the continuum of care states they already maintain a youth-specific coordinated entry system.
  Position Letters:
AB 2520 (Ramos) Asm APPR 4.29.24
AB 2520 (Ramos) Asm HUM 4.5.24
AB 2520 (Ramos) Asm HCD 3.12.24
AB 2520 Fact Sheet
      Position         
      Support         
 
  AB 2711 (Ramos D)   Suspensions and expulsions: voluntary disclosures.
  Current Text: Amended: 7/3/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 7/3/2024-S. APPR.
  Summary: Current law prohibits a pupil from being suspended from school or recommended for expulsion, unless the superintendent of the school district or the principal of the school in which the pupil is enrolled determines that the pupil has committed a specified act, including, among other acts, that the pupil (1) unlawfully possessed, used, sold, or otherwise furnished, or had been under the influence of, a controlled substance, an alcoholic beverage, or an intoxicant of any kind, or (2) possessed or used tobacco, or products containing tobacco or nicotine products, including, but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, miniature cigars, clove cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, snuff, chew packets, and betel. This bill would prohibit the suspension of a pupil who voluntarily discloses, in order to seek help through services or supports, their use of a controlled substance, alcohol, intoxicants of any kind, or a tobacco product, solely for that disclosure.
  Position Letters:
Support Letter - SEN ED - 6.10.2024
AB 2177 (Ramos) Asm Ed 3/19/24
AB 2711 (Ramos) Fact Sheet
      Position         
      Support         
 
  AB 2723 (Irwin D)   The California Cradle-to-Career Data System Act.
  Current Text: Amended: 7/3/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 7/3/2024-S. APPR.
  Summary: Under existing law the California Cradle-to-Career Data System Workgroup is established to assess and recommend data system structural components, processes, and options for expansion and enhancement of data system functionality and to advise ongoing efforts to develop, administer, and enhance the data system. Under existing law, a governing board is established to govern the data system. This bill would dissolve the workgroup.
  Position Letters:
AB 2723 (Irwin) Sen Ed
AB 2723 (Irwin) Sen Judic
      Position         
      Support         
 
  AB 2802 (Maienschein D)   Transitional housing placement providers.
  Current Text: Amended: 4/2/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 6/25/2024-S. APPR.
  Summary: The California Community Care Facilities Act requires the State Department of Social Services to license and regulate transitional housing placement providers pursuant to the act. Under current law, a transitional housing placement provider is an organization licensed by the department to provide transitional housing to foster children at least 16 years of age and not more than 18 years of age and to nonminor dependents to promote their transition to adulthood. Current law requires a transitional housing unit to include, among other things, a host family certified by a transitional housing placement provider or other designated entity, as prescribed. Current law requires the department to adopt regulations governing transitional housing placement living arrangements requirements for minors and nonminor dependents, as prescribed. This bill would require those regulations to include allowing a minor or nonminor dependent participant to share a bedroom or unit in a transitional housing placement with a nonparticipant roommate, sibling, or coparent, as specified. The bill would also require the regulations to allow a minor or nonminor dependent with children to share their living arrangement with a coparent or participant sibling. The bill would require the regulations to require counties and program contracts to allow individual program participants and individuals sharing their living arrangements to share bedrooms, bathrooms, and units together, regardless of gender identity and would require county program contracts to allow providers and participants to make best matches to allow for gender flexibility.
  Position Letters:
AB 2802 (Maienschein) Sen APPR 6.26.24
AB 2802 (Maienschein) Sen GO 6.20.24
AB 2802 (Maienschein) Sen HUM 6.3.24
AB 2802 (Maienschein) AsmHUM 3.18.24
      Position         
      Support         
 
  AB 2830 (Rivas, Robert D)   Foster care: relative placement: approval process.
  Current Text: Amended: 6/11/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 7/1/2024-S. APPR. SUSPENSE FILE
  Summary: Current law generally provides for the placement of foster youth in various placement settings. Current law requires the State Department of Social Services to implement a unified, family friendly, and child-centered resource family approval process to replace the multiple processes for licensing foster family homes, certifying foster homes by licensed foster family agencies, approving relatives and nonrelative extended family members as foster care providers, and approving guardians and adoptive families. This bill would require the department, notwithstanding any other law and on or before January 1, 2027, to adopt a simplified approval process for relative caregivers, as specified. The bill would condition implementation of the simplified approval process upon federal financial participation and approval, as specified. The bill would authorize the department to convene with tribes and communicate with other interested individuals and organizations to develop a simplified process for relative caregivers that achieve the goals of safety, permanency, and well-being for children in out-of-home care. This bill would require the department on or before September 30, 2026, to report to the Legislature for consideration the additional statutory changes required to fully implement separate resource family approval standards for relative caregivers.
  Position Letters:
AB 2830 (R. Rivas) Sen APPR 6.20.24
AB 2830 (R. Rivas) Sen HUM 6.3.24
AB 2830 (R.Rivas) Asm APPR Support Ltr Template
AB 2830 (R. Rivas) Fact Sheet
AB 2830 (Rivas) Asm APPR 4.24.24
AB 2830 (Rivas) - Asm HUM 4.16.24
      Position         
      Sponsored         
 
  AB 2906 (Bryan D)   Foster care payments.
  Current Text: Amended: 5/16/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 7/1/2024-S. APPR. SUSPENSE FILE
  Summary: Existing law provides for the out-of-home placement, including foster care placement, of children who are unable to remain in the custody and care of their parents. Existing law, the federal Social Security Act, provides for benefits for eligible beneficiaries, including survivorship and disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for, among others, blind and disabled children. Existing law requires every youth who is in foster care and nearing emancipation to be screened by the county for potential eligibility for SSI and requires that screening to occur when the foster youth is at least 16 years and 6 months of age and not older than 17 years and 6 months of age. This bill, among other things, would require a placing agency to act in accordance with specified guidelines and pursuant to certain requirements when acting as the representative payee or in any other fiduciary capacity for a child or youth, including, among other requirements, ensuring that the child’s federal Social Security Administration survivors’ benefits, as defined, are not used to pay for, or to reimburse, the placing agency for any costs of the child’s care and supervision, as defined. The bill would make these requirements operative January 1, 2025, or 30 days after the department issues the necessary all-county letters and informing materials to county placing agencies, whichever is later. By increasing county duties with respect to foster youth, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.
  Position Letters:
AB 2906 (Bryan) Sen APPR 6.20.24
AB 2906 (Bryan) Sen HUM 6.6.24
AB 2906 (Bryan) Fact Sheet
AB 2906 (Bryan) Asm APPR 4.15.24
AB 2906 AHUM Support Ltr Template 3.14.24
AB 2906 (Bryan) AHUM 3.14.24
      Position         
      Sponsored         
 
  AB 2929 (Carrillo, Juan D)   Dependents: family finding.
  Current Text: Amended: 6/27/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 6/25/2024-S. APPR.
  Summary: Current law provides that a child may be adjudged to be a dependent of the juvenile court because of abuse or neglect and generally provides for the placement of dependent children in various foster care placement settings. Current law requires the court to review the status of every dependent child in foster care no less frequently than once every 6 months and requires the county social worker to file a supplemental report as part of that review. This bill would additionally require the court, in conducting the periodic status review for a child or nonminor dependent who is not residing with their relatives, nonrelative extended family members, or in the case of an Indian child, their extended family members, or an Indian custodian, to determine whether the social worker has continued efforts, and in the case of an Indian child, the active efforts, to locate any relatives, extended family members, or nonrelative extended family members who could provide family support or possible placement of the child and the names of those relatives, extended family members, or nonrelative extended family members.
  Position Letters:



      Position         
      Support         
 
  AB 2948 (Ramos D)   Adoption Assistance Program: tribal court order.
  Current Text: Introduced: 2/16/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 7/1/2024-S. CONSENT CALENDAR
  Summary: Current law establishes the Adoption Assistance Program (AAP), administered by the State Department of Social Services, to benefit children residing in foster homes by providing the stability and security of permanent homes. Current law requires the department or the county, whichever is responsible for determining the child’s AAP eligibility, to assess the needs of the child and the circumstances of the family, with the amount of a cash benefit being determined based on those factors. Current law requires the department, county adoption agency, or licensed adoption agency to inform the prospective adoptive family regarding the county responsible for providing financial aid to the adoptive family in the determined amount. Under existing law, a child is eligible for AAP benefits if certain criteria are met, including, among others, that adoptive placement without financial assistance is unlikely because of certain special needs, and that it has been determined that the child cannot or should not be returned to the home of the child’s parents as evidenced by any of certain circumstances. Under current law, those circumstances include, among others, a court order terminating parental rights, a signed relinquishment, or, in the case of a tribal customary adoption, the court has given full faith and credit to a tribal customary adoption order, as specified. This bill would add, as a qualifying circumstance for purposes of those AAP benefits, a final order of adoption issued by the tribal court of the child’s tribe, in the case of an Indian child who was a dependent of the juvenile court immediately prior to the transfer of the Indian child’s case.
  Position Letters:
AB 2948 (Ramos) Sen Floor 7.1.24
Support Letter SEN Jud 6.10.2024
AB 2948 (Ramos) Asm HUM
      Position         
      Support         
 
  SB 245 (Hurtado D)   California Food Assistance Program: eligibility and benefits.
  Current Text: Amended: 6/20/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 7/2/2024-A. APPR. SUSPENSE FILE
  Summary: Current federal law provides for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in California as CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county. Current law requires the State Department of Social Services to establish a food assistance program, known as the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP), to provide assistance to a noncitizen of the United States if the person’s immigration status meets the eligibility criteria of SNAP in effect on August 21, 1996, but the person is not eligible for SNAP benefits solely due to their immigration status, as specified. Existing law also makes eligible for the program an applicant who is otherwise eligible for the program, but who entered the United States on or after August 22, 1996, if the applicant is sponsored and the applicant meets one of a list of criteria, including that the applicant, after entry into the United States, is a victim of the sponsor or the spouse of the sponsor if the spouse is living with the sponsor. Current law, to become operative on the date that the department notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System (SAWS) has been updated to perform the necessary automation, and subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act, makes an individual 55 years of age or older eligible for the program if the individual’s immigration status is the sole basis for their ineligibility for CalFresh benefits. This bill would delete the above-described contingency and, commencing on October 1, 2027, remove that age limitation and make any individual eligible for the program if the individual’s immigration status is the sole basis for their ineligibility for CalFresh benefits.
  Position Letters:
Fact Sheet
Support Letter - SHUM
      Position         
      Support         
 
  SB 333 (Cortese D)   Homeless pupils: California Success, Opportunity, and Academic Resilience (SOAR) Guaranteed Income Program.
  Current Text: Amended: 5/13/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 7/2/2024-A. APPR. SUSPENSE FILE
  Summary: Would, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature for this purpose, require the State Department of Social Services to establish the California Success, Opportunity, and Academic Resilience (SOAR) Guaranteed Income Program. The program would award public school pupils who are in grade 12 and are homeless children or youths, as defined, a guaranteed income of $1,000 each month for 4 months from May 1, 2025, to August 1, 2025, inclusive, as provided. The bill would establish the California SOAR Guaranteed Income Fund as the initial depository of all moneys appropriated, donated, or otherwise received for the program, and upon appropriation by the Legislature, would provide moneys in the fund to counties that opt in to the program for distribution to eligible participants.
  Position Letters:

SB 333 (Cortese) AED Support 6.20.23
SB 333 (Cortese) SHUM 4.18.23
      Position         
      Support         
 
  SB 483 (Cortese D)   Pupil rights: prone restraint.
  Current Text: Introduced: 2/14/2023   html   pdf
  Location: 6/17/2024-A. THIRD READING
  Summary: Current law prohibits a person employed by or engaged in a public school from inflicting, or causing to be inflicted, corporal punishment upon a pupil. Current law prohibits the use of certain restraint and seclusion techniques. Current law authorizes staff trained in prone containment to use the procedure on a pupil who is an individual with exceptional needs in a public school program as an emergency intervention. If prone restraint techniques are used, existing law requires a staff member to observe the pupil for any signs of distress throughout the use of prone restraint. This bill instead would prohibit the use of prone restraint, defined to include prone containment, by an educational provider.
  Position Letters:
SB 483 (Cortese) Asm ED 6.3.24
SB 483 (Cortese) Sen Approps 1.11.24
SB 483 (Cortese) SEd 1.8.24
      Position         
      Support         
 
  SB 554 (Cortese D)   Restraining orders.
  Current Text: Amended: 1/11/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 6/5/2024-A. THIRD READING
  Summary: Current law authorizes the court to issue an order to restrain a person to prevent acts of domestic violence, abuse, and sexual abuse, and to provide for a separation of the persons involved in the domestic violence for a period sufficient to permit these persons to seek resolution. Current law authorizes a person who has suffered harassment, as defined, to seek a temporary restraining order and an order prohibiting harassment. Current law prohibits denial of the right to petition when the petitioner has vacated the household to avoid abuse, and, under certain conditions, in the case of a marital relationship. This bill would specify the jurisdictions in which the petitioner may file for a restraining order, including, among other jurisdictions, the superior court in the county where the defendant resides, where the offense occurred, or where the petitioner resides or is temporarily located.
  Position Letters:
Fact Sheet
Asm Jud Support Letter
      Position         
      Support         
 
  SB 953 (Menjivar D)   Medi-Cal: menstrual products.
  Current Text: Amended: 3/21/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 5/16/2024-S. DEAD
  Summary: Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law establishes a schedule of covered benefits under the Medi-Cal program.This bill would add menstrual products, as defined, to that schedule of covered benefits. The bill would require the department to seek any necessary federal approvals to implement this coverage. The bill would require the department to seek, and would authorize the department to use, any and all available federal funding, as specified, to implement this coverage.
  Position Letters:


      Position         
      Support         
 
  SB 954 (Menjivar D)   Sexual health.
  Current Text: Amended: 6/3/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 6/25/2024-A. APPR.
  Summary: The California Healthy Youth Act requires school districts, defined to include county boards of education, county superintendents of schools, the California School for the Deaf, the California School for the Blind, and charter schools, to ensure that all pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, receive comprehensive sexual health education and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention education, as specified. The bill would require the State Department of Education to monitor compliance with the requirements of the California Healthy Youth Act as part of its annual compliance monitoring of state and federal programs. This bill would, on or before the start of the 2025–26 school year, require each public school, including schools operated by a school district or county office of education, charter schools, and state special schools, to make internal and external condoms available to all pupils in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, free of charge, as provided. The bill would require these public schools to, at the beginning of each school year, inform pupils through existing school communication channels that free condoms are available and where the condoms can be obtained on school grounds. The bill would require a public school to post at least one notice regarding these requirements, as specified. The bill would require this notice to include certain information, including, among other information, information about how to use condoms properly. The bill would require each public school serving any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, to allow condoms to be made available during the course of, or in connection with, educational or public health programs and initiatives, as provided.
  Position Letters:



      Position         
      Support         
 
  SB 1079 (Menjivar D)   Youth Housing Bond Act of 2024.
  Current Text: Amended: 5/16/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 6/3/2024-A. H. & C.D.
  Summary: Would enact the Youth Housing Bond Act of 2024 (bond act), which, if adopted, would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $1,000,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance the Youth Housing Program, established as part of the bond act. The bill, as a part of the program, would require the Department of Housing and Community Development to make awards to local agencies, nonprofit organizations, and joint ventures for the purpose of acquiring, renovating, constructing, and purchasing equipment for youth centers or youth housing, as those terms are defined.
  Position Letters:
SB 1079 (Menjivar) Support Ltr Template
      Position         
      Sponsored         
 
  SB 1126 (Min D)   Child abuse and neglect.
  Current Text: Amended: 4/1/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 5/23/2024-S. DEAD
  Summary: Existing law defines “child abuse or neglect” for the purposes of the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act to include, among other things, physical injury or death inflicted by other than accidental means and the willful harming or injuring of a child. This bill would provide that the fact that a child witnessed domestic violence or was present during a domestic violence incident does not require a mandated reporter to report child abuse or neglect. The bill would also provide that the definition of child abuse or neglect does not apply to how a child witnessing domestic violence or residing in a household where domestic violence exists is relevant to, among other things, a determination of child custody or visitation.
  Position Letters:
SB 1126 (Min) SPUBS 3.12.24
SB 1126 (Min) Fact Sheet
      Position         
      Support         
 
  SB 1197 (Alvarado-Gil D)   In-home respite services.
  Current Text: Amended: 4/3/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 7/2/2024-A. APPR. SUSPENSE FILE
  Summary: The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act requires the State Department of Developmental Services to allocate funds to private nonprofit regional centers for the provision of community services and supports for persons with developmental disabilities and their families. Current law permits regional centers to purchase in-home respite services for regional center clients. Current law defines in-home respite services as intermittent or regularly scheduled temporary nonmedical care and supervision provided in the client’s own home, for a regional center client who resides with a family member. Current law, the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC) program, requires foster care providers to be paid a per-child per-month rate, established by the State Department of Social Services, for the care and supervision of the child placed with the provider. Existing law generally provides for the placement of foster youth in various placement settings. Current law provides for the implementation of the resource family approval process and defines a resource family as an individual or family who has successfully met both the home environment assessment standards and permanency assessment criteria, as specified, necessary for providing care for a child placed by a public or private child placement agency by court order, or voluntarily placed by a parent or legal guardian. Current law prohibits children who receive both AFDC-FC benefits and regional center services and who reside with a relative, nonrelative extended family member, or specified community care facility that is not vendored by the regional center as a residential facility from being prohibited from receiving in-home respite services. This bill would add children who receive both AFDC-FC benefits and regional center services and who reside with a resource family to the above-described prohibition. The bill would also add Indian children who receive both AFDC-FC benefits and regional center services and who reside with an extended family member, as defined, or a tribally approved home, as defined, to the above-described prohibition. To the extent that the bill increases the duties of the county in administering the AFDC-FC program, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
  Position Letters:
SB 1198 (Alvarado-Gil) Asm APPR 6.13.24
SB 1197 (Alvarado-Gil) Asm HUM 6.5.24
SB 1197 (Alvarado-Gil) Sen APPR 4.5.24
SB 1197 (Alvarado-Gil) SHUM 3.25.24
      Position         
      Support         
 
  SB 1274 (Eggman D)   Vital records: adoptees’ birth certificates.
  Current Text: Amended: 4/1/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 4/25/2024-S. DEAD
  Summary: Existing law prohibits an agency from disclosing personal information that would link the information to the individual unless, among other things, the information is provided to a governmental entity by law, or the disclosure is to the individual to whom the information pertains. This bill would authorize disclosure of an original birth certificate, as defined, to an adopted person, or child or grandchild of an adopted person. This bill would remove the adopted parents exception described above that required the certificate to omit the facility of birth and the race and color of the parents. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.
      Position         
      Support         
 
  SB 1322 (Wahab D)   Foster youth: Chafee Educational and Training Vouchers Program.
  Current Text: Amended: 5/16/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 6/25/2024-A. APPR.
  Summary: Current federal law establishes the Chafee Educational and Training Vouchers Program for the purposes of providing financial aid to current and former foster youth who are attending qualifying postsecondary educational institutions. Current law provides that the Student Aid Commission, through an interagency agreement with the State Department of Social Services, currently operates the program in California, and, commencing with the 2018–19 award year, and contingent upon an appropriation of sufficient funds in the annual Budget Act for this purpose, requires the commission to make a new Chafee grant award to a student only if the student will not be 26 years of age or older by July 1 of the award year and the student attends specified qualifying institutions. This bill, commencing with the 2025–26 award year and contingent upon an appropriation of sufficient funds in the annual Budget Act for this purpose, would require the commission to make a new Chafee grant award to a student if, in addition to the above-referenced conditions, the youth, between 15 and 18 years of age, (1) is or was a dependent or ward of the court, living in foster care, (2) exited foster care to Kin-GAP, a nonrelated legal guardianship, or adoption, or (3) was placed in out-of-home care by a tribe or tribal organization.
  Position Letters:



      Position         
      Support         
 
  SB 1396 (Alvarado-Gil D)   CalWORKs: Home Visiting Program.
  Current Text: Amended: 4/8/2024   html   pdf
  Location: 7/2/2024-A. APPR. SUSPENSE FILE
  Summary: Current law, subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act, requires the State Department of Social Services to award funds to participating counties in order to provide voluntary evidence-based home visiting services to assistance units that meet specified requirements. Current law establishes the CalWORKs Home Visiting Program, a voluntary program for the purpose of supporting positive health, development, and well-being outcomes for pregnant and parenting people, families, and infants born into poverty. Current law requires the program to provide high-quality, evidence-based, culturally competent services to pregnant people, parents or caretaker relatives, and children for 24 months or until the child’s 2nd birthday, whichever is later, that meet the needs of at-risk assistance units, as specified. This bill would extend those provisions to apply to children for at least 24 months, and not to exceed the duration of the applicable home visiting program model.
  Position Letters:
SB 1396 (Alvarado-Gil) Asm APPR 6.13.24
SB 1396 (Alvarado-Gil) Asm HUM 6.3.24
SB 1396 (Alvarado-Gil) Sen APPR 4.18.24
SB 1396 (Alvarado-Gil) Sen HUM 4.5.24
SB 1396 Fact Sheet
      Position         
      Support         

Total Measures: 41

Total Tracking Forms: 41



7/27/2024 4:06:07 AM