CA AB 562

Title: Foster care: placement: family finding.
Author: Isaac Bryan

Summary
AB 562, as introduced, Solache. Foster care: placement: family finding. Existing law requires a county social worker to investigate the circumstances of each child taken into temporary custody by a peace officer under specified circumstances. Existing law requires the social worker to conduct an investigation, within 30 days of the child’s removal, to identify and locate adult relatives of the child, as specified, and to provide them with a notification that the child has been removed from the custody of the child’s parents, guardians, or Indian custodian, and an explanation of the various options to participate in the care and placement of the child.This bill, the Justice through Placing Foster Children with Families Act, would require, beginning January 1, 2027, each county to review publicly available data comparing the statewide national average rate of placing children with relatives in the prior year for comparison with the county’s placement rate during the same period, and, in the case of Indian children, the statewide average rate according to the federal Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 placement preferences, as specified. The bill would require that, if the county’s placement rate is less than the statewide average, the county welfare director, or their designee, to consult with the Center for Excellence in Family Finding, Engagement, and Support to identify best practices that may be adopted by the county to improve its placement rate, as specified.The bill would also require, each year that a county has a placement rate that is less than the statewide average, or, in the case of Indian children, the statewide average rate according to the federal Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 placement preferences, the board of supervisors for that county to, at least once, include the topic for discussion on the agenda of a regularly noticed meeting of the full board. The bill would authorize, if a board of supervisors has a social services committee or similar committee assigned to hear child welfare matters, the topic to be placed on the agenda for discussion by the committee rather than the full board. By increasing the duties of county welfare departments and county boards of supervisors, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would make related findings and declarations.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.

Status
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 9).

Bill Documents
CA AB 562 - 02/12/25 - Introduced
02/12/25 - CA AB 562 (02/12/25 - Introduced)