AB 1112: Foster youth.

(1)Existing 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. Existing law establishes a schedule of basic rates to be paid for the care and supervision of each foster child. Existing law also establishes the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program (Kin-GAP), which provides aid on behalf of eligible children who have a kinship guardianship, and the Approved Relative Caregiver Funding Program (ARC), which provides payments to approved relative caregivers who are caring for children and nonminor dependents who are ineligible for AFDC-FC payments.

Existing law requires, when a child is living with a parent who receives AFDC-FC or Kin-GAP benefits, or 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. Existing law makes a pregnant minor or nonminor dependent eligible for the infant supplement, referred to in this instance as an expectant parent benefit, for the 3-month period immediately prior to the month the birth is anticipated.

This bill would expand eligibility for the expectant parent benefit to include minors and nonminor dependents who are under the dependency jurisdiction of the juvenile court and who would be eligible to have foster care benefits paid on their behalf but for the minor or nonminor dependent not residing in an approved placement. The bill would require the department to develop and implement automated payments for these purposes, as specified. Because counties would administer these extended benefits, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

(2)Existing law authorizes a county to pay, in addition to the basic rate, a clothing allowance to provide additional clothing for a child.

This bill would require a county, if the county opts to provide a clothing allowance, to provide the clothing allowance to a minor or nonminor dependent who is under the dependency jurisdiction of the juvenile court and who would be eligible to have foster care benefits paid on their behalf but for the minor or nonminor dependent not residing in an approved placement. The bill would require the department to develop and implement automated payments for these purposes, as specified.

(3)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.