Source: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160AB1997
Timestamp: 2020-02-22 09:16:52
Document Index: 670264033

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 4', 'art 4', 'art 1', 'art 27', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 2', 'art 2']

PDF2 PDF |Add To My Favorites | Version: 09/25/16 - Chaptered 08/31/16 - Enrolled 08/19/16 - Amended Senate 08/15/16 - Amended Senate 08/03/16 - Amended Senate 06/30/16 - Amended Senate 06/21/16 - Amended Senate 05/27/16 - Amended Assembly 04/05/16 - Amended Assembly 02/16/16 - Introduced
AB-1997 Foster care.(2015-2016)
AB1997:v90#DOCUMENT
Assembly Bill No. 1997
An act to amend Sections 48204, 48853, 56155.5, and 79420 of the Education Code, to amend Sections 6552, 7911, 7911.1, 7912, 8712, and 9201 of, and to add Section 9203.1 to, the Family Code, to amend Section 30029.7 of the Government Code, to amend Sections 1501.1, 1502, 1502.4, 1506, 1506.1, 1506.3, 1506.5, 1506.6, 1506.7, 1506.8, 1507.25, 1517, 1520.1, 1522.2, 1522.4, 1522.41, 1522.43, 1522.44, 1523.1, 1524.6, 1525.5, 1530.7, 1530.8, 1531.1, 1531.15, 1534, 1536, 1538.3, 1538.5, 1538.6, 1538.7, 1538.8, 1538.9, 1548, 1562, 1562.01, 1562.35, 1563, and 1567.4 of, and to add Sections 1517.1, 1517.2, and 1517.3 to, the Health and Safety Code, to amend Section 676.7 of the Insurance Code, to amend Section 11165.7 of the Penal Code, to amend Sections 1541 and 1543 of the Probate Code, and to amend Sections 291, 293, 294, 295, 309, 319.3, 361.2, 361.3, 361.4, 361.45, 361.5, 366.26, 706.6, 727, 727.1, 727.4, 4094.2, 4096, 4096.5, 11253.45, 11400, 11402, 11460, 11461, 11461.2, 11462, 11462.01, 11462.02, 11462.04, 11462.041, 11463, 11465, 11466, 11466.2, 11466.21, 11466.22, 11466.24, 11466.25, 11466.31, 11466.32, 11468, 11469, 16000, 16501,16501.1, 16504.5, 16514, 16519.5, 16519.55, 16519.6, 18250, 18251, 18254, and 18358.30 of, to amend, repeal, and add Section 11462.06 of, to add Sections 11466.01, 16519.61, and 16519.62 to, to add the heading of Article 2 (commencing with Section 16519.5) to Chapter 5 of Part 4 of Division 9 of, to add the heading of Article 3 (commencing with Section 16520) to Chapter 5 of Part 4 of Division 9 of, to repeal Sections 11463.01 and 11463.1 of, and to repeal and add Sections 11402.01 and 16519.51 of, the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to foster care.
AB 1997, Mark Stone. Foster care.
(1) Existing law provides for the early implementation, by counties and foster family agencies, of the resource family approval process, which is a unified, family friendly, and child-centered approval process that replaces the multiple processes for licensing foster family homes, approving relatives and nonrelative extended family members as foster care providers, and approving adoptive families. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to implement the resource family approval process in all counties and with all foster family agencies by January 1, 2017.
This bill would also specify that the resource family approval process replaces certification of foster homes by foster family agencies and the approval of guardians. The bill would make conforming statutory changes related to the statewide implementation of the resource family approval process, including prohibiting the department and counties from accepting applications to license foster family homes, and prohibiting foster family agencies from accepting applications to certify foster homes, on and after January 1, 2017. The bill would also make specified changes relating to resource families including by, among others, requiring the department to develop a basic rate that ensures that a child placed in a licensed foster family home, a certified family home, or with a resource family approved by a county or foster family agency is eligible for the same basic rate, and would revise certain aspects of the resource family approval process, including by, among other things, requiring counties and foster family agencies to conduct annual, announced inspections of resource family homes and to inspect resource family homes as often as necessary to ensure the quality of care provided; authorizing counties to grant, deny, or rescind criminal records exemptions; and making it a misdemeanor to willfully and knowingly, with the intent to deceive, make a false statement or fail to disclose a material fact in a resource family application. By imposing additional duties on counties, by creating a new crime, and by expanding the duties of foster family agencies, for which the failure to comply is a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
(2) Existing law, the California Community Care Facilities Act, provides for the licensure of short-term residential treatment centers, which are residential facilities licensed by the State Department of Social Services and operated by any public agency or private organization that provides short-term, specialized, and intensive treatment, and 24-hour care and supervision to children. The act also provides for the licensure of foster family agencies, which are organizations engaged in the recruiting, certifying, and training of, and providing professional support to, foster parents, or in finding homes and other places for placement of children for temporary or permanent care who require that level of care. A violation of the act is a crime.
This bill would instead identify “short-term residential treatment centers” as “short-term residential therapeutic programs” and would provide that they are facilities operated by a public agency or private organization and licensed by the department that provide an integrated program of specialized and intensive care and supervision, services and supports, treatment, and short-term, 24-hour care and supervision to children. The bill would make various changes relating to the licensing and operation of short-term residential therapeutic programs and foster family agencies, including by, among other things, requiring the department to establish rates for short-term residential therapeutic programs and foster family agencies that include an interim rate, provisional rate, and probationary rate, and providing for the implementation of those rates; specifying that a foster family agency licensed before January 1, 2017, has until December 31, 2018, to obtain accreditation, and that a foster family agency licensed on or after January 1, 2017, or a short-term residential therapeutic program has up to 24 months from the date of licensure to obtain accreditation; and requiring a private short-term residential therapeutic program to be organized and operated on a nonprofit basis. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
(3) Existing federal law, the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, among other provisions, establishes a permanent placement option for older children as an alternative to long-term foster care, referred to in the act as “another planned permanent living arrangement” (APPLA). Existing law declares the intent of the Legislature to conform state law to the federal act, as specified. Existing law generally provides a minor 16 years of age and older with another planned permanent living arrangement, as prescribed.
This bill would make conforming changes by deleting references to long-term foster care and instead providing for placement in another planned permanent living arrangement.
(4) This bill would require the State Department of Social Services and the State Department of Health Care Services to adopt regulations to implement its provisions, and to implement certain other provisions of existing law. The bill would authorize those departments to implement the provisions of this bill by all-county letter or similar written instructions until regulations are adopted. The bill would make other changes related to foster care and the placement of foster children.
(5) This bill would incorporate additional changes made by AB 741, AB 1001, AB 1067, AB 1688, AB 1702, AB 1762, AB 1838, AB 1849, AB 2005, AB 2231, AB 2537, SB 524, and SB 1336 that would become operative only if this bill is chaptered last.
(1) (A) A pupil placed within the boundaries of that school district in a regularly established licensed children’s institution or a licensed foster home as defined in Section 56155.5, or a family home pursuant to a commitment or placement under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 200) of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
Section 48204 of the Education Code, as amended by Section 2.5 of Chapter 554 of the Statutes of 2015, is amended to read:
(a) Notwithstanding Section 48200, a pupil complies with the residency requirements for school attendance in a school district if he or she is:
Section 56155.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:
56155.5.
(a) As used in this part, “licensed children’s institution” means a residential facility that is licensed by the state, or other public agency having delegated authority by contract with the state to license, to provide nonmedical care to children, including, but not limited to, individuals with exceptional needs. “Licensed children’s institution” includes a group home or short-term residential therapeutic program, as defined in Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code. As used in this article and Article 3 (commencing with Section 56836.165) of Chapter 7.2, a “licensed children’s institution” does not include any of the following:
(1) A juvenile court school, juvenile hall, juvenile home, day center, juvenile ranch, or juvenile camp administered pursuant to Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 48645) of Chapter 4 of Part 27.
(2) A county community school program provided pursuant to Section 1981.
(3) Any special education programs provided pursuant to Section 56150.
(4) Any other public agency.
(b) As used in this part, “foster family home” means a family residence that is licensed by the state, or other public agency having delegated authority by contract with the state to license, to provide 24-hour nonmedical care and supervision for not more than six foster children, including, but not necessarily limited to, individuals with exceptional needs. “Foster family home” includes a small family home as defined in paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code, a certified family home of a foster family agency as defined in Section 1506 of the Health and Safety Code, and a resource family as defined in Section 1517 of the Health and Safety Code and Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
Section 79420 of the Education Code is amended to read:
Section 6552 of the Family Code is amended to read:
Section 7911 of the Family Code is amended to read:
(a) The health and safety of California children placed by a county social services agency or probation department out of state pursuant to the provisions of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children are a matter of statewide concern.
(b) The Legislature therefore affirms its intention that the State Department of Social Services has full authority to require an assessment and placement recommendation by a county multidisciplinary team prior to placement of a child in an out-of-state group home, to investigate allegations of child abuse or neglect of minors so placed, and to ensure that out-of-state group homes, accepting California children, meet all California group home licensing standards.
(c) The Legislature also affirms its intention that, on and after January 1, 2017, the licensing standards applicable to out-of-state group homes certified by the department shall be those required of short-term residential therapeutic programs operated in this state.
(d) This section is declaratory of existing law with respect to the Governor’s designation of the State Department of Social Services to act as the compact administrator and of that department to act as the single state agency charged with supervision of public social services under Section 10600 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
Section 7911.1 of the Family Code is amended to read:
7911.1.
(a) Notwithstanding any other law, the State Department of Social Services or its designee shall investigate any threat to the health and safety of children placed by a California county social services agency or probation department in an out-of-state group home pursuant to the provisions of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. This authority shall include the authority to interview children or staff in private or review their file at the out-of-state facility or wherever the child or files may be at the time of the investigation. Notwithstanding any other law, the State Department of Social Services or its designee shall require certified out-of-state group homes to comply with the reporting requirements applicable to group homes licensed in California pursuant to Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations for each child in care regardless of whether he or she is a California placement, by submitting a copy of the required reports to the Compact Administrator within regulatory timeframes. The Compact Administrator within one business day of receiving a serious events report shall verbally notify the appropriate placement agencies and, within five working days of receiving a written report from the out-of-state group home, forward a copy of the written report to the appropriate placement agencies.
(b) Any contract, memorandum of understanding, or agreement entered into pursuant to paragraph (b) of Article 5 of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children regarding the placement of a child out of state by a California county social services agency or probation department shall include the language set forth in subdivision (a).
(c) (1) The State Department of Social Services or its designee shall perform initial and continuing inspection of out-of-state group homes in order to either certify that the out-of-state group home meets all licensure standards required of group homes operated in California or that the department has granted a waiver to a specific licensing standard upon a finding that there exists no adverse impact to health and safety.
(2) (A) On and after January 1, 2017, the licensing standards applicable to out-of-state group homes certified by the department, as described in paragraph (1), shall be those required of short-term residential therapeutic programs operated in this state, unless the out-of-state group home is granted an extension pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 11462.04 of the Welfare and Institutions Code or has otherwise been granted a waiver pursuant to this subdivision.
(B) On and after January 1, 2017, the licensing standards applicable to out-of-state group homes certified by the department, as described in paragraph (1), shall include the licensing standards for mental health program approval in Section 1562.01 of the Health and Safety Code. These standards may be satisfied if the out-of-state group home has an equivalent mental health program approval in the state in which it is operating. If an out-of-state group home cannot satisfy the licensing standards for an equivalent mental health program approval, children shall not be placed in that facility.
(3) In order to receive certification, the out-of-state group home shall have a current license, or an equivalent approval, in good standing issued by the appropriate authority or authorities of the state in which it is operating.
(4) On and after January 1, 2017, an out-of-state group home program shall, in order to receive an AFDC-FC rate, meet the requirements of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 11460 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(5) Any failure by an out-of-state group home facility to make children or staff available as required by subdivision (a) for a private interview or make files available for review shall be grounds to deny or discontinue the certification.
(6) Certifications made pursuant to this subdivision shall be reviewed annually.
(d) A county shall be required to obtain an assessment and placement recommendation by a county multidisciplinary team prior to placement of a child in an out-of-state group home facility.
(e) Any failure by an out-of-state group home to obtain or maintain its certification as required by subdivision (c) shall preclude the use of any public funds, whether county, state, or federal, in the payment for the placement of any child in that out-of-state group home, pursuant to the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.
(f) (1) A multidisciplinary team shall consist of participating members from county social services, county mental health, county probation, county superintendents of schools, and other members as determined by the county.
(2) Participants shall have knowledge or experience in the prevention, identification, and treatment of child abuse and neglect cases, and shall be qualified to recommend a broad range of services related to child abuse or neglect.
(g) (1) The department may deny, suspend, or discontinue the certification of the out-of-state group home if the department makes a finding that the group home is not operating in compliance with the requirements of subdivision (c).
(2) Any judicial proceeding to contest the department’s determination as to the status of the out-of-state group home certificate shall be held in California pursuant to Section 1085 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(h) The certification requirements of this section shall not impact placements of emotionally disturbed children made pursuant to an individualized education program developed pursuant to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.) if the placement is not funded with federal or state foster care funds.
(i) Only an out-of-state group home authorized by the Compact Administrator to receive state funds for the placement by a county social services agency or probation department of any child in that out-of-state group home from the effective date of this section shall be eligible for public funds pending the department’s certification under this section.
Section 7912 of the Family Code is amended to read:
(a) The Legislature finds and declares that the health and safety of children in out-of-state group home care pursuant to the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children is a matter of statewide concern. The Legislature therefore affirms its intention that children placed by a county social services agency or probation department in out-of-state group homes be accorded the same personal rights and safeguards of a child placed in a California group home. This section is in clarification of existing law.
(b) (1) The Compact Administrator may temporarily suspend any new placements in an out-of-state group home, for a period not to exceed 100 days, pending the completion of an investigation, pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 7911.1, regarding a threat to the health and safety of children in care. During any suspension period the department or its designee shall have staff daily onsite at the out-of-state group home.
(2) On and after January 1, 2017, the licensing standards applicable to out-of-state group homes certified by the State Department of Social Services shall be those required of short-term residential therapeutic programs operated in this state.
(a) (1) The department, county adoption agency, or licensed adoption agency shall require each person who files an application for adoption to be fingerprinted and shall secure from an appropriate law enforcement agency any criminal record of that person to determine whether the person has ever been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation. The department, county adoption agency, or licensed adoption agency may also secure the person’s full criminal record, if any, with the exception of any convictions for which relief has been granted pursuant to Section 1203.49 of the Penal Code. Any federal-level criminal offender record requests to the Department of Justice shall be submitted with fingerprint images and related information required by the Department of Justice for the purposes of obtaining information as to the existence and content of a record of an out-of-state or federal conviction or arrest of a person or information regarding any out-of-state or federal crimes or arrests for which the Department of Justice establishes that the person is free on bail, or on his or her own recognizance pending trial or appeal. The Department of Justice shall forward to the Federal Bureau of Investigation any requests for federal summary criminal history information received pursuant to this section. The Department of Justice shall review the information returned from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and shall compile and disseminate a response to the department, county adoption agency, or licensed adoption agency.
Section 9201 of the Family Code is amended to read:
(a) Except as otherwise permitted or required by statute, neither the department nor a licensed adoption agency shall release information that would identify persons who receive, or have received, adoption services.
(b) Employees of the department and licensed adoption agencies shall release to the department at Sacramento any requested information, including identifying information, for the purposes of recordkeeping and monitoring, evaluation, and regulation of the provision of adoption services.
(c) Prior to the placement of a child for adoption, the department or licensed adoption agency may, upon the written request of both a birth and a prospective adoptive parent, arrange for contact between these birth and prospective adoptive parents that may include the sharing of identifying information regarding these parents.
(d) The department and any licensed adoption agency may, upon written authorization for the release of specified information by the subject of that information, share information regarding a prospective adoptive parent or birth parent with other social service agencies, including the department, other licensed adoption agencies, counties or licensed foster family agencies for purposes of approving a resource family pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (p) of Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or providers of health care as defined in Section 56.05 of the Civil Code.
(e) Notwithstanding any other law, the department and any licensed adoption agency may furnish information relating to an adoption petition or to a child in the custody of the department or any licensed adoption agency to the juvenile court, county welfare department, public welfare agency, private welfare agency licensed by the department, provider of foster care services, potential adoptive parent, or provider of health care as defined in Section 56.05 of the Civil Code, if it is believed the child’s welfare will be promoted thereby.
(f) The department and any licensed adoption agency may make adoption case records, including identifying information, available for research purposes, provided that the research will not result in the disclosure of the identity of the child or the parties to the adoption to anyone other than the entity conducting the research.
Section 9203.1 is added to the Family Code, to read:
9203.1.
(a) The department or a licensed adoption agency shall, upon the request of a prospective adoptive parent, disclose an adoption homestudy and any updates to an adoption homestudy to a county or licensed foster family agency for the purpose of approving the prospective adoptive parent as a resource family pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (p) of Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(b) The department shall prescribe the form of the request described in subdivision (a).
(c) The department or a licensed adoption agency shall respond to a request made pursuant to subdivision (a) within 20 working days of receiving it.
(d) The department or a licensed adoption agency may charge a fee to cover the reasonable costs of processing requests made pursuant to subdivision (a). The department or a licensed adoption agency shall waive fees authorized by this subdivision for any person who is receiving public assistance pursuant to Part 3 (commencing with Section 11000) of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
Section 30029.7 of the Government Code is amended to read:
(a) Notwithstanding any other law and to the extent consistent with or required by federal law or court order, a county or counties may contract directly with, or otherwise request, the State Department of Health Care Services or the State Department of Social Services, as applicable, to provide or administer the following programs, services, or activities:
(3) The resource family approval program pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 16519.5) of Chapter 5 of Part 4 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or any portion thereof.
(c) (1) Contracts awarded pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) shall be exempt from the requirements of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 10100) and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 10290) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code. Contracts with the State Department of Health Care Services shall include reimbursement to the state for the cost of providing the services or activities in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), subject to the terms of the contract. Those reimbursement amounts shall not exceed the funding provided to counties for specified programs.
(2) Contracts awarded pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a) shall be exempt from the requirements of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 10100) and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 10290) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code. Contracts with, or other requests of, the State Department of Social Services shall include reimbursement to the state for the costs of providing the services or activities in paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (a).
Section 1501.1 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:
(C) Cooperatively supervises adoptive placements with a full-service adoption agency, but does not disrupt a placement or remove a child from a placement.
(14) “Runaway and homeless youth shelter” means a group home licensed by the department to operate a program pursuant to Section 1502.35 to provide voluntary, short-term shelter and personal services to runaway youth or homeless youth, as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502.35.
(18) “Short-term residential therapeutic program” means a residential facility operated by a public agency or private organization and licensed by the department pursuant to Section 1562.01 that provides an integrated program of specialized and intensive care and supervision, services and supports, treatment, and short-term 24-hour care and supervision to children. The care and supervision provided by a short-term residential therapeutic program shall be nonmedical, except as otherwise permitted by law. Private short-term residential therapeutic programs shall be organized and operated on a nonprofit basis.
(A) “Residential facility” means any family home, group care facility, or similar facility determined by the department for 24-hour nonmedical care of persons in need of personal services, supervision, or assistance essential for sustaining the activities of daily living or for the protection of the individual.
(III) Cooperatively supervises adoptive placements with a full-service adoption agency, but does not disrupt a placement or remove a child from a placement.
(R) “Short-term residential therapeutic program” means a residential facility operated by a public agency or private organization and licensed by the department pursuant to Section 1562.01 that provides an integrated program of specialized and intensive care and supervision, services and supports, treatment, and short-term 24-hour care and supervision to children. The care and supervision provided by a short-term residential therapeutic program shall be nonmedical, except as otherwise permitted by law. Private short-term residential therapeutic programs shall be organized and operated on a nonprofit basis. A short-term residential therapeutic program may be operated as a children’s crisis residential center.
SEC. 15.2.
SEC. 15.3.
Section 1502.4 of the Health and Safety Code, as added by Section 8 of Chapter 773 of the Statutes of 2015, is amended to read:
(2) Any home selected and certified or approved for the reception and care of children by a foster family agency is not subject to Section 1508. A certified family home or a resource family of a foster family agency shall not be licensed as a residential facility.
(e) (1) Requirements for social work personnel for a foster family agency shall be a master’s degree from an accredited or state-approved graduate school in social work or social welfare, or equivalent education and experience, as determined by the department.
(2) Persons who possess a master’s degree from an accredited or state-approved graduate school in any of the following areas, or equivalent education and experience, as determined by the department, shall be considered to be qualified to perform social work activities in a foster family agency:
(I) A subject area that is functionally equivalent to those listed in subparagraphs (A) to (H), inclusive, as set forth by the department.
(i) The department shall be required to complete the process for the exception to minimum education and experience requirements described in subdivisions (e) and (f) within 30 days of receiving the exception application of social work personnel or supervising social worker qualifications from the foster family agency.
(j) For purposes of this section, “social work personnel” means supervising social workers as well as nonsupervisory social workers.
Section 1506.1 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:
(B) If the application does not contain a letter of recommendation as described in subparagraph (A), then the department shall cease review of the application. Nothing in this paragraph shall constitute a denial of the application for purposes of Section 1526 or any other law.
Section 1506.3 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:
Section 1506.5 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:
Section 1506.6 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:
Section 1506.7 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:
Section 1506.8 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:
Section 1507.25 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:
(G) A substitute caregiver of a foster family home or a certified family home.
(I) A staff member of a short-term residential therapeutic program who provides direct care and supervision to children and youth residing in the short-term residential therapeutic program.
(2) The following individuals shall be authorized to give prescribed injections including insulin in accordance with this subdivision:
(G) In the absence of a foster parent, a designated substitute caregiver in a foster family home or a certified family home.
(H) A direct care staff member of a short-term residential therapeutic program who provides direct care and supervision to children and youth residing in the short-term residential therapeutic program.
(a) (1) Pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the State Department of Social Services, shall implement a unified, family friendly, and child-centered resource family approval process to replace the existing 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.
(2) For purposes of this section, a “resource family” means an individual or family that has successfully met both the home environment assessment and the permanency assessment criteria, as set forth in Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, necessary for providing care for a related or unrelated child who is under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, or otherwise in the care of a county child welfare agency or probation department.
(3) For purposes of this chapter, “resource family approval” means that the applicant or resource family successfully meets the home environment assessment and permanency assessment standards adopted pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. This approval is in lieu of a certificate of approval issued by a licensed foster family agency pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1506.
(4) Approval of a resource family does not guarantee an initial, continued, or adoptive placement of a child with a resource family. Approval of a resource family does not guarantee the establishment of a legal guardianship of a child with a resource family. There is no fundamental right to resource family approval.
(5) (A) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, a foster family agency shall cease any further review of an application if the applicant has had a previous application denial within the preceding year by the department or county, or if the applicant has had a previous rescission, revocation, or exemption denial or exemption rescission by the department or county within the preceding two years.
(C) If an individual was excluded from a resource family home or facility licensed by the department, a foster family agency shall cease review of the individual’s application unless the excluded individual has been reinstated pursuant to Section 11522 of the Government Code and subdivision (h) of Section 1558 of this code.
(6) A resource family shall meet the approval standards set forth in Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, comply with the written directives or regulations adopted pursuant to Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and comply with other applicable federal and state laws in order to maintain approval.
(7) A resource family may be approved by the department or a county pursuant to Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code or by a foster family agency pursuant to this section.
(b) (1) A foster family agency shall comply with the provisions of this section.
(i) (I) Approving or denying resource family applications, including preparing a written evaluation of an applicant’s capacity to foster, adopt, or provide legal guardianship of a child based on all of the information gathered through the resource family application and assessment processes.
(II) Considering the applicant’s preference to provide a specific level of permanency, including adoption, guardianship, or, in the case of a relative, placement with a fit and willing relative, shall not be a basis to deny an application.
(iii) Requiring resource families to report to the foster family agency any incidents as specified in the written directives or regulations adopted pursuant to Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(2) Investigating all complaints against a resource family approved by a foster family agency and taking any action it deems necessary. This shall include investigating any incidents reported about a resource family indicating that the approval standard is not being maintained. Complaint investigations shall be conducted in accordance with the written directives or regulations adopted pursuant to Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. A foster family agency shall not conduct an internal investigation regarding an incident report or complaint against a resource family that interferes with an investigation being conducted by the department.
(4) Excluding a resource family parent or other individual from presence in a resource family home or licensed community care facility, from being a member of the board of directors, an executive director, or an officer of a licensed community care facility, or prohibiting a licensed community care facility from employing the resource family parent or other individual, if appropriate.
(6) Providing a resource family parent, applicant, excluded individual, or individual who is the subject of a criminal record exemption decision with due process pursuant to Section 16519.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(d) The department may enter and inspect the home of a resource family approved by a foster family agency to secure compliance with the resource family approval standards, investigate a complaint or incident, or ensure the quality of care provided.
(C) Notification that a certificate of approval shall be forfeited by operation of law as specified in paragraph (7).
(5) By no later than January 1, 2018, the following shall apply to all certified family homes:
(A) A certified family home with an approved adoptive home study, completed prior to January 1, 2018, shall be deemed to be an approved resource family.
(B) A certified family home that had a child in placement at any time between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017, inclusive, may be approved as a resource family on the date of successful completion of a psychosocial assessment pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(7) All certificates of approval shall be forfeited by operation of law on December 31, 2019, except as provided in this paragraph:
(A) All certified family homes that did not have a child in placement at any time between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017, inclusive, shall forfeit the certificate of approval by operation of law on January 1, 2018.
Section 1517.1 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:
(b) (1) The applicable licensure and oversight processes shall continue to be administered for foster family homes licensed prior to January 1, 2017, or as specified in paragraph (2), until the license is revoked or forfeited by operation of law pursuant to this section or Section 1524 of the Health and Safety Code.
(4) By no later than January 1, 2018, the following shall apply to all foster family homes:
(A) A foster family home with an approved adoptive home study, completed prior to January 1, 2018, shall be deemed to be an approved resource family.
(B) A foster family home that had a child in placement for any length of time between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017, inclusive, may be approved as a resource family on the date of successful completion of a psychosocial assessment pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(5) All foster family home licenses shall be forfeited by operation of law on December 31, 2019, except as provided in this paragraph or Section 1524.
(A) All licensed foster family homes that did not have a child in placement at any time between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017, inclusive, shall forfeit the license by operation of law on January 1, 2018.
(B) For foster family home licensees who have pending resource family applications on December 31, 2019, the foster family home license shall be forfeited by operation of law upon approval as a resource family. If approval is denied, forfeiture by operation of law shall occur on the date of completion of any proceedings required by law to ensure due process.
Section 1517.2 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:
Section 1517.3 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:
Section 1520.1 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:
1520.1.
In addition to Section 1520, applicants for a group home or short-term residential therapeutic program license shall meet the following requirements:
(a) (1) During the first 12 months of operation, the facility shall operate with a provisional license. After eight months of operation, the department shall conduct a comprehensive review of the facility for compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and help develop a plan of correction with the provisional licensee, if appropriate. By the end of the 12th month of operation, the department shall determine if the permanent license should be issued.
(2) If the department determines that the group home or short-term residential therapeutic program is in substantial compliance with licensing standards, notwithstanding Section 1525.5, the department may extend the provisional license for up to an additional six months for either of the following reasons:
(A) The group home or short-term residential therapeutic program requires additional time to be in full compliance with licensing standards.
(B) After 12 months of operation, the group home or short-term residential therapeutic program is not operating at 50 percent of its licensed capacity.
(3) By no later than the first business day of the 17th month of operation, the department shall conduct an additional review of a facility for which a provisional license is extended pursuant to paragraph (2), in order to determine whether a permanent license should be issued.
(4) The department may deny a group home or short-term residential therapeutic program license application at any time during the term of the provisional license to protect the health and safety of clients. If the department denies the application, the group home or short-term residential therapeutic program shall cease operation immediately. Continued operation of the facility after the department denies the application or the provisional license expires shall constitute unlicensed operation.
(5) When the department notifies a city or county planning authority pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 1520.5, the department shall briefly describe the provisional licensing process and the timelines provided for under that process, as well as provide the name, address, and telephone number of the district office licensing the facility where a complaint or comment about the group home’s or short-term residential therapeutic program’s operation may be filed.
(b) (1) After the production of the booklet provided for in paragraph (2), every member of the group home’s board of directors or governing body and every member of a short-term residential therapeutic program’s board of directors or governing body shall, prior to becoming a member of the board of directors or governing body sign a statement that he or she understands his or her legal duties and obligations as a member of the board of directors or governing body and that the group home’s or short-term residential therapeutic program’s operation is governed by laws and regulations that are enforced by the department, as set forth in the booklet. The applicant, provisional licensee, and licensee shall have this statement available for inspection by the department. For members of the board of directors or governing body when the booklet is produced, the licensee shall obtain this statement by the next scheduled meeting of the board of directors or governing body. Compliance with this paragraph shall be a condition of licensure.
(2) The department shall distribute to every group home provider and short-term residential therapeutic program provider, respectively, detailed information designed to educate members of the group home provider’s or short-term residential therapeutic program provider’s board of directors or governing body of their roles and responsibilities as members of a public benefit corporation under the laws of this state. The information shall be included in a booklet, may be revised as deemed necessary by the department, and shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(A) The financial responsibilities of a member of the board of directors or governing body.
(B) Disclosure requirements for self-dealing transactions.
(C) Legal requirements pertaining to articles of incorporation, bylaws, length of member terms, voting procedures, board or governing body meetings, quorums, minutes of meetings, and, as provided for in subdivision (f), member duties.
(D) A general overview of the laws and regulations governing the group home’s or short-term residential therapeutic program’s operation that are enforced by the department.
(c) All financial records submitted by a facility to the department, or that are submitted as part of an audit of the facility, including, but not limited to, employee timecards and timesheets, shall be signed and dated by the employee and by the group home representative or short-term residential therapeutic program representative who is responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the information contained in the record, or when a time clock is used, the payroll register shall be signed and dated, and those financial records shall contain an affirmative statement that the signatories understand that the information contained in the document is correct to the best of their knowledge and that submission of false or misleading information may be prosecuted as a crime.
(d) An applicant, provisional licensee, or licensee shall maintain, submit, and sign financial documents to verify the legitimacy and accuracy of these documents. These documents include, but are not limited to, the group home or short-term residential therapeutic program application, any financial documents and plans of corrections submitted to the department, and timesheets.
(e) (1) It is the intent of the Legislature that a group home or short-term residential therapeutic program have either representatives on its board of directors, as listed in paragraph (2), or a community advisory board, that meets at least annually.
(2) The representatives on the board of directors or the community advisory board members should consist of at least the following persons:
(A) A member of the facility’s board of directors.
(B) Members of the community where the facility is located.
(C) Neighbors of the facility.
(D) Current or former clients of the facility.
(E) A representative from a local law enforcement or other city or county representative.
(f) Each group home or short-term residential therapeutic program provider shall schedule and conduct quarterly meetings of its board of directors or governing body. During these quarterly meetings, the board of directors or governing body shall review and discuss licensing reports, financial and program audit reports of its group home or short-term residential therapeutic program operations, special incident reports, and any administrative action against the licensee or its employees. The minutes shall reflect the board’s or governing body’s discussion of these documents and the group home’s or short-term residential therapeutic program’s operation. The licensee shall make available the minutes of group home’s or short-term residential therapeutic program’s board of directors or governing body meetings to the department.
Section 1522.2 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:
1522.2.
If a local law enforcement agency, a probation officer, or a local department or agency that provides social services becomes aware that an employee of a community treatment facility, a day treatment facility, a group home, a short-term residential therapeutic program, or a foster family agency has been arrested for child abuse, as defined in Section 11165.6 of the Penal Code, after determining that the potential for abuse is present and that the employee is free to return to the facility where children are present, the local law enforcement agency, probation officer, or local department or agency shall notify the licensee of the charge of abuse.
Section 1522.4 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:
1522.4.
(a) In addition to any other requirements of this chapter and except for foster family homes, small family homes, and certified family homes of foster family agencies, all of the following apply to any community care facility providing 24-hour care for children:
(1) The facility shall have one or more facility managers. “Facility manager,” as used in this section, means a person on the premises with the authority and responsibility necessary to manage and control the day-to-day operation of a community care facility and supervise the clients. The facility manager, licensee, and administrator, or any combination thereof, may be the same person provided he or she meets all applicable requirements. If the administrator is also the facility manager for the same facility, this person shall be limited to the administration and management of only one facility.
(2) The facility manager shall have at least one year of experience working with the client group served, or equivalent education or experience, as determined by the department.
(3) A facility manager shall be at the facility at all times when one or more clients are present. To ensure adequate supervision of clients when clients are at the facility outside of their normal schedule, a current telephone number where the facility manager can be reached shall be provided to the clients, licensing agency, school, and any other agency or person as the department determines is necessary. The facility manager shall instruct these agencies and individuals to notify him or her when clients will be returning to the facility outside of the normal hours.
(4) The Legislature intends to upgrade the quality of care in licensed facilities. For the purposes of Sections 1533 and 1534, the licensed facility shall be inspected and evaluated for quality of care at least once each year, without advance notice and as often as necessary, without advance notice, to ensure the quality of care being provided.
Paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) shall apply only to new facilities licensed for six or fewer children which apply for a license after January 1, 1985, and all other new facilities licensed for seven or more children which apply for a license after January 1, 1988. Existing facilities licensed for seven or more children shall comply by January 1, 1989.
(b) No employee of the state or county employed in the administration of this chapter or employed in a position that is in any way concerned with facilities licensed under this chapter shall hold a license or have a direct or indirect financial interest in a facility described in subdivision (a).
The department, by regulation, shall make the determination pursuant to the purposes of this section and chapter, as to what employment is in the administration of this chapter or in any way concerned with facilities licensed under this chapter and what financial interest is direct or indirect.
This subdivision does not prohibit the state or county from securing a license for, or operating, a facility that is otherwise required to be licensed under this chapter.
(c) (1) No group home, short-term residential therapeutic program, or foster family agency licensee, or employee, member of the board of directors, or officer of a group home, short-term residential therapeutic program, or foster family agency licensee, shall offer gifts or other remuneration of any type to any employee of the State Department of Social Services or placement agency that exceeds the monetary limits for gifts to employees of the State of California pursuant to Title 9 (commencing with Section 81000) of the Government Code and regulations adopted thereunder by the Fair Political Practices Commission.
(2) No employee of the department or a placement agency shall accept any gift or other remuneration of any type from a group home, short-term residential therapeutic program, or foster family agency licensee or employee, member of the board of directors, or officer of a group home, short-term residential therapeutic program, or foster family agency licensee that exceeds the monetary limits for gifts to employees of the State of California in Title 9 (commencing with Section 81000) of the Government Code and regulations adopted thereunder by the Fair Political Practices Commission.
(3) Violation of this subdivision is punishable as a misdemeanor.
(2) The department shall develop and establish an administrator certification training program to ensure that administrators of short-term residential therapeutic program facilities have appropriate training to provide the care and services for which a license or certificate is issued.
(b) (1) In addition to any other requirements or qualifications required by the department, an administrator of a group home or short-term residential therapeutic program shall successfully complete a specified department-approved training certification program, pursuant to subdivision (c), prior to employment.
(2) The administrator certification programs for short-term residential therapeutic programs shall require a minimum of 40 hours of classroom instruction that provides training on a uniform core of knowledge in each of the following areas:
(1) Laws, regulations, and policies and procedural standards that impact the operations of a short-term residential therapeutic program.
(g) It shall be unlawful for any person not certified under this section to hold himself or herself out as a certified administrator of a group home or short-term residential therapeutic program. Any person willfully making any false representation as being a certified administrator or facility manager is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(h) (1) Certificates issued under this section shall be renewed every two years and renewal shall be conditional upon the certificate holder submitting documentation of completion of 40 hours of continuing education related to the core of knowledge specified in subdivision (c). No more than one-half of the required 40 hours of continuing education necessary to renew the certificate may be satisfied through online courses. All other continuing education hours shall be completed in a classroom setting. For purposes of this section, an individual who is a group home or short-term residential therapeutic program administrator and who is required to complete the continuing education hours required by the regulations of the State Department of Developmental Services, and approved by the regional center, may have up to 24 of the required continuing education course hours credited toward the 40-hour continuing education requirement of this section. The department shall accept for certification, community college course hours approved by the regional centers.
(2) Every administrator of a group home or short-