Existing law generally provides for the placement of foster youth in various placement settings and governs the provision of child welfare services, which is defined to mean public social services that are directed toward the accomplishment of specified purposes, including protecting and promoting the welfare of all children, preventing the unnecessary separation of children from their families, and restoring to their families children who have been removed.

Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to ensure that, among other things, emergency response services are coordinated with the implementation of specified program models. Existing law also requires each county to provide the department with a disaster response plan describing how county programs that receive federal assistance for child and family services would respond to a disaster. Existing law also requires the department to review its disaster plan, revise the plan to clarify the role and responsibilities of the state in the event of a disaster, and consult with counties to identify opportunities for collaboration in the event of a disaster.

This bill would establish the Child Welfare Disaster Response Program, to be administered by the department. The bill would establish the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account to fund the program. The bill would require, upon appropriation by the Legislature, moneys in the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account to be used for purposes of the program and to support the needs of foster children and youth, as defined, and their caregivers during a disaster. The bill would require the department to determine eligibility criteria for applicants and would authorize county child welfare agencies, county probation departments, or Indian tribes, as specified, to apply for funds. The bill would require funds awarded pursuant those provisions to be available to meet the housing, clothing, transportation, and other tangible needs of foster children and youth and their caregivers that occur within 180 days of a local emergency proclamation by a local government or a state of emergency proclamation by the Governor. The bill would authorize the department to implement, interpret, or make specific these provisions by means of all-county letters or similar written instructions.

Existing law generally provides for the placement of foster youth in various placement settings and governs the provision of child welfare services, which is defined to mean public social services that are directed toward the accomplishment of specified purposes, including protecting and promoting the welfare of all children, preventing the unnecessary separation of children from their families, and restoring to their families children who have been removed.

Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to ensure that, among other things, emergency response services are coordinated with the implementation of specified program models. Existing law also requires each county to provide the department with a disaster response plan describing how county programs that receive federal assistance for child and family services would respond to a disaster. Existing law also requires the department to review its disaster plan, revise the plan to clarify the role and responsibilities of the state in the event of a disaster, and consult with counties to identify opportunities for collaboration in the event of a disaster.

This bill would establish the Child Welfare Disaster Response Program, to be administered by the department. The bill would establish the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account to fund the program. The bill would require, upon appropriation by the Legislature, $2,000,000 to be allocated from the General Fund to moneys in the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account to be used for purposes of the program and to support the needs of foster children and youth youth, as defined, and their caregivers during a disaster. The bill would require the department to determine eligibility criteria for applicants and would authorize county child welfare departments agencies, county probation departments, or Indian tribes, as specified, to apply for funds. The bill would require funds awarded pursuant those provisions to be available to meet the housing, clothing, transportation, and other tangible needs of foster children and youth and their caregivers that occur within 180 days of a local emergency proclamation by a local government or a state of emergency proclamation by the Governor. The bill would authorize the department to implement, interpret, or make specific these provisions by means of all-county letters or similar written instructions.

Existing law generally provides for the placement of foster youth in various placement settings and governs the provision of child welfare services, which is defined to mean public social services that are directed toward the accomplishment of specified purposes, including protecting and promoting the welfare of all children, preventing the unnecessary separation of children from their families, and restoring to their families children who have been removed.

Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to ensure that, among other things, emergency response services are coordinated with the implementation of specified program models. Existing law also requires each county to provide the department with a disaster response plan describing how county programs that receive federal assistance for child and family services would respond to a disaster. Existing law also requires the department to review its disaster plan, revise the plan to clarify the role and responsibilities of the state in the event of a disaster, and consult with counties to identify opportunities for collaboration in the event of a disaster.

This bill would establish the Child Welfare Disaster Response Program, to be administered by the department. The bill would establish the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account to fund the program. The bill would require, upon appropriation by the Legislature, $2,000,000 to be allocated from the General Fund to the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account for purposes of the program and to support the needs of foster children and youth and their caregivers during a disaster. The bill would require the department to determine eligibility criteria for applicants and would authorize county child welfare departments to apply for funds. The bill would require funds awarded pursuant those provisions to be available to meet the housing, clothing, transportation, and other tangible needs of foster children and youth and their caregivers that occur within 180 days of a local emergency proclamation by a local government or a state of emergency proclamation by the Governor.

GOVERNOR′S VETO

GV Bill Id:AB 689

Author:(Blanca Rubio)

As Enrolled Ver:September 8, 2025

2/3 vote

SUMMARY

Creates the Child Welfare Disaster Response Program (Program) to support the needs of foster youth and their caregivers during a disaster, to be administered by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), and establishes the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account (Account) to fund the Program.

Senate Amendments:

1. Strike the requirement for the Legislature to allocate $2 million from the General Fund to the Account.
2. Define, for purposes of these provisions, ″foster children and youth.″
3. Clarify that a county welfare agency, county probation department, and Indian tribe may apply for funds on behalf of foster children and youth and their caregivers under supervision of the agency, department, or tribe based on the eligibility criteria established by CDSS.
4. Authorize CDSS to implement, interpret, or make specific these provisions by means of all-county letters or similar written instructions from CDSS, which shall have the same force and effect as regulations.

Governor′s Veto Message

To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 689 without my signature.

This bill establishes a statewide Child Welfare Disaster Response Fund and a Child Welfare Disaster Response Program to support the needs of foster children and youth and their caregivers during a disaster.

While I share the author′s goal to support foster children and youth and their caregivers during a disaster, this bill would create a new, unfunded grant program. Without an identified funding source, this bill will create significant, ongoing General Fund cost pressures to fund local assistance costs annually.

In partnership with the Legislature this year, my Administration has enacted a balanced budget that recognizes the challenging fiscal landscape our state faces while maintaining our commitment to working families and our most vulnerable communities. With significant fiscal pressures and the federal government′s hostile economic policies, it is vital that we remain disciplined when considering bills with significant fiscal implications that are not included in the budget, such as this measure.

COMMENTS

Child Welfare Services (CWS). California′s CWS system was established with the goal of protecting youth from abuse and neglect and is designed to provide safety, health, and overall well-being of children. When a child is identified as being at risk of abuse or neglect, reports can be made to either law enforcement or a county child welfare agency. Often, these reports are submitted by mandated reporters who are legally required to report suspicion of child abuse or neglect due to their profession, such as a teacher or healthcare provider.

California′s CWS programs are administered by the 58 individual counties with each county organizing and operating its own program of child protection based on local needs while adhering to state and federal regulations. When a child welfare case is open, counties are the primary governmental entity interacting with children and families when addressing issues of child abuse and neglect, and are responsible, either directly or through providers, for obtaining or providing the interventions and relevant services to protect children and assist families with issues related to child abuse and neglect.

CDSS secures federal funding to support CWS programs, provides statewide best practices training for social workers, and conducts program regulatory oversight and administration, and is responsible for the development of policy while also providing direct services such as adoption placements.

As of January 1, 2025, there are 38,894 youth up to 21 years of age in foster care.

Disaster Services. CDSS currently supports counties′ mass care and shelter programs, as well as state and federal grant recovery programs. CDSS also supports local agencies to provide temporary shelter for those experiencing a disaster or emergency. The shelters are typically opened and operated by the American Red Cross and have assistance from local or county employees. During emergencies or disasters, Regional Emergency Operations Centers are used as a coordination hub and are managed by the California Governor′s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES). California has three Regional Emergency Operation Centers which are located in the Inland, Coastal, and Southern regions of the state. CDSS staff is permitted to deploy to one or all of the three Regional Emergency Operations Centers at the request of CalOES in situations involving mass care, sheltering, or other human services functions that fall under CDSS′ expertise.

CalOES serves as California′s overall coordinator and agent to secure federal government resources through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and responds, directs, and coordinates state and federal resources across the state during all major emergencies and disasters. CalOES also supports local jurisdictions and communities through planning and preparedness activities, training, and facilitating the immediate response to an emergency through the longer‐term recovery phase. Once activated by CalOES, CDSS staff assist in the mass care and shelter function by: tracking shelter status and feeding services; coordinating state resources; and supporting the American Red Cross in sheltering operations.

CDSS is also authorized to provide grant assistance through the Individuals and Households Program (IHP) and the State Supplemental Grant Program (SSGP).The IHP is a joint federal and state program that can provide assistance following a disaster declared by the President. Under IHP, FEMA is authorized to provide awards in the form of rent, home repair or replacement, transportation repair or replacement, funeral expenses, personal property, medical, dental or other miscellaneous expenses. According to CDSS, FEMA disaster assistance covers basic needs, but does not normally compensate disaster victims for their entire loss. The SSGP is 100% state-funded and is authorized to provide grant funds to assist people who have suffered damage in a disaster area declared by the President when the federal assistance to IHP is implemented. The grants are designed to assist with any eligible items not already addressed by the IHP and in order to be eligible for SSGP, recipients are required to have first applied to FEMA and maximized the IHP award.

This bill would add to the array of grants and programs that direct resources to vulnerable populations affected by disasters by creating a program to specifically support the needs of foster youth and their caregivers during a disaster. The Program will allow counties to apply for funds to meet the housing, clothing, transportation, and other tangible needs of foster youth and their caregivers that occur within 180 days of a local emergency proclamation by a local government or a state of emergency proclamation by the Governor.

Recent Disasters. With an increase in climate-change related events, communities throughout California are impacted. The list of recent Governor-proclaimed disasters in California include severe winter storms, drought, floods, earthquakes, and fires. The impact of the recent fires in Los Angeles in January of 2025 is still being felt, as the affected communities try to rebuild. The fires burned over 57,000 acres of land and destroyed more than 18,000 homes and structures.

According to CDSS′ Disaster Planning and Response Unit, they have daily communication and report outs with Los Angeles County on the impacted youth from the wildfire incidents.

According to CDSS, Los Angeles County had 442 child welfare/probation-supervised youth and 401 Los Angeles County employees that were initially impacted by these wildfire incidents. Additionally, 20 children are confirmed as impacted due to 13 homes/facilities burning down.

The Camp Fire, which in 2018 burned over 150,000 acres and destroyed more than 18,000 structures in Butte County, forced thousands of families to evacuate their homes. As a result, displaced people were forced to stay in shelters, hotels or tents, and parking lots, with many having no access to clothing or food beyond what they brought with them. According to Youth for Change and Youth and Family Programs, the Camp Fire displaced about 30 of the county′s 500 foster youth. Regulations require resource families to seek approval from their social worker should they live more than two hours from their agency or cohabitate with other people, even in an emergency, which limits many families′ ability to immediately move out of the area where there may be more resources. Due to these limitations, having access to immediate assistance during a disaster becomes an acute necessity for resource families who house foster youth.

According to the Author

″[This bill] would establish a statewide Child Welfare Disaster Response Fund to ensure resources are immediately available to meet the urgent needs of children and youth in foster care and their caregivers in the aftermath of a natural disaster such as a fire, flood or earthquake. While the state is legally responsible for meeting the needs of children and youth in foster care, they rarely receive the funding needed to cover extra, unexpected costs that occur in the wake of a natural disaster, including the replacement of lost clothing, food and essential belongings, securing temporary housing, or travel to and from a temporary home to appointments and school. While everyone struggles in the face of natural disasters, children and youth in foster care and their caregivers deal with a unique set of challenges after an emergency and the state should ensure resources are immediately available post-disaster to reduce additional trauma and minimize further disruptions.″

Arguments in Support

According to co-sponsor, Children Now, ″The state is legally responsible for meeting the needs of children and youth in foster care, which is particularly critical in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster. Despite the state′s legal responsibility to support these children and youth, there is no dedicated funding available to cover extra, unexpected costs, including replacing lost belongings, securing temporary housing, or traveling between a temporary home and appointments or school.″

Arguments in Opposition

No opposition on file.

FISCAL COMMENTS

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee on August 29, 2025:

1. Unknown, ongoing General Fund cost pressures to fund the proposed Child Welfare Disaster Response Account.
2. Minor and absorbable costs to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) for state administration.

VOTES

ASM HUMAN SERVICES: 7-0-0

YES: Lee, Castillo, Calderon, Elhawary, Essayli, Jackson, Celeste Rodriguez

ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 14-0-1

YES: Wicks, Arambula, Calderon, Caloza, Dixon, Elhawary, Fong, Mark González, Hart, Pacheco, Pellerin, Solache, Ta, Tangipa

ABS, ABST OR NV: Sanchez

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0-0

YES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Ávila Farías, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Castillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, DeMaio, Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Flora, Fong, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lee, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Ransom, Celeste Rodriguez, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zbur, Rivas

SENATE FLOOR: 40-0-0

YES: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Becker, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, Dahle, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, Limón, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Padilla, Pérez, Reyes, Richardson, Rubio, Seyarto, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Strickland, Umberg, Valladares, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 78-0-1

YES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Ávila Farías, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Castillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, DeMaio, Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Flora, Fong, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lee, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Ransom, Celeste Rodriguez, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zbur, Rivas

ABS, ABST OR NV: Ahrens

UPDATED

VERSION: September 8, 2025

CONSULTANT: Jessica Langtry / HUM. S. / (916) 319-2089 FN: 0002149

CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS

CSA1 Bill Id:AB 689

Author:(Blanca Rubio)

As Amended Ver:August 29, 2025

Majority vote

SUMMARY

Creates the Child Welfare Disaster Response Program (Program) to support the needs of foster youth and their caregivers during a disaster, to be administered by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), and establishes the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account (Account) to fund the Program.

Senate Amendments

1. Strike the requirement for the Legislature to allocate $2 million from the General Fund to the Account.
2. Define, for purposes of these provisions, ″foster children and youth.″
3. Clarify that a county welfare agency, county probation department, and Indian tribe may apply for funds on behalf of foster children and youth and their caregivers under supervision of the agency, department, or tribe based on the eligibility criteria established by CDSS.
4. Authorize CDSS to implement, interpret, or make specific these provisions by means of all-county letters or similar written instructions from CDSS, which shall have the same force and effect as regulations.

COMMENTS

Child Welfare Services (CWS). California′s CWS system was established with the goal of protecting youth from abuse and neglect and is designed to provide safety, health, and overall well-being of children. When a child is identified as being at risk of abuse or neglect, reports can be made to either law enforcement or a county child welfare agency. Often, these reports are submitted by mandated reporters who are legally required to report suspicion of child abuse or neglect due to their profession, such as a teacher or healthcare provider.

California′s CWS programs are administered by the 58 individual counties with each county organizing and operating its own program of child protection based on local needs while adhering to state and federal regulations. When a child welfare case is open, counties are the primary governmental entity interacting with children and families when addressing issues of child abuse and neglect, and are responsible, either directly or through providers, for obtaining or providing the interventions and relevant services to protect children and assist families with issues related to child abuse and neglect.

CDSS secures federal funding to support CWS programs, provides statewide best practices training for social workers, and conducts program regulatory oversight and administration, and is responsible for the development of policy while also providing direct services such as adoption placements.

As of January 1, 2025, there are 38,894 youth up to 21 years of age in foster care.

Disaster Services. CDSS currently supports counties′ mass care and shelter programs, as well as state and federal grant recovery programs. CDSS also supports local agencies to provide temporary shelter for those experiencing a disaster or emergency. The shelters are typically opened and operated by the American Red Cross and have assistance from local or county employees. During emergencies or disasters, Regional Emergency Operations Centers are used as a coordination hub and are managed by the California Governor′s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES). California has three Regional Emergency Operation Centers which are located in the Inland, Coastal, and Southern regions of the state. CDSS staff is permitted to deploy to one or all of the three Regional Emergency Operations Centers at the request of CalOES in situations involving mass care, sheltering, or other human services functions that fall under CDSS′ expertise.

CalOES serves as California′s overall coordinator and agent to secure federal government resources through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and responds, directs, and coordinates state and federal resources across the state during all major emergencies and disasters. CalOES also supports local jurisdictions and communities through planning and preparedness activities, training, and facilitating the immediate response to an emergency through the longer‐term recovery phase. Once activated by CalOES, CDSS staff assist in the mass care and shelter function by: tracking shelter status and feeding services; coordinating state resources; and supporting the American Red Cross in sheltering operations.

CDSS is also authorized to provide grant assistance through the Individuals and Households Program (IHP) and the State Supplemental Grant Program (SSGP).The IHP is a joint federal and state program that can provide assistance following a disaster declared by the President. Under IHP, FEMA is authorized to provide awards in the form of rent, home repair or replacement, transportation repair or replacement, funeral expenses, personal property, medical, dental or other miscellaneous expenses. According to CDSS, FEMA disaster assistance covers basic needs, but does not normally compensate disaster victims for their entire loss. The SSGP is 100% state-funded and is authorized to provide grant funds to assist people who have suffered damage in a disaster area declared by the President when the federal assistance to IHP is implemented. The grants are designed to assist with any eligible items not already addressed by the IHP and in order to be eligible for SSGP, recipients are required to have first applied to FEMA and maximized the IHP award.

This bill would add to the array of grants and programs that direct resources to vulnerable populations affected by disasters by creating a program to specifically support the needs of foster youth and their caregivers during a disaster. The Program will allow counties to apply for funds to meet the housing, clothing, transportation, and other tangible needs of foster youth and their caregivers that occur within 180 days of a local emergency proclamation by a local government or a state of emergency proclamation by the Governor.

Recent Disasters. With an increase in climate-change related events, communities throughout California are impacted. The list of recent Governor-proclaimed disasters in California include severe winter storms, drought, floods, earthquakes, and fires. The impact of the recent fires in Los Angeles in January of 2025 is still being felt, as the affected communities try to rebuild. The fires burned over 57,000 acres of land and destroyed more than 18,000 homes and structures.

According to CDSS′ Disaster Planning and Response Unit, they have daily communication and report outs with Los Angeles County on the impacted youth from the wildfire incidents.

According to CDSS, Los Angeles County had 442 child welfare/probation-supervised youth and 401 Los Angeles County employees that were initially impacted by these wildfire incidents. Additionally, 20 children are confirmed as impacted due to 13 homes/facilities burning down.

The Camp Fire, which in 2018 burned over 150,000 acres and destroyed more than 18,000 structures in Butte County, forced thousands of families to evacuate their homes. As a result, displaced people were forced to stay in shelters, hotels or tents, and parking lots, with many having no access to clothing or food beyond what they brought with them. According to Youth for Change and Youth and Family Programs, the Camp Fire displaced about 30 of the county′s 500 foster youth. Regulations require resource families to seek approval from their social worker should they live more than two hours from their agency or cohabitate with other people, even in an emergency, which limits many families′ ability to immediately move out of the area where there may be more resources. Due to these limitations, having access to immediate assistance during a disaster becomes an acute necessity for resource families who house foster youth.

According to the Author

″[This bill] would establish a statewide Child Welfare Disaster Response Fund to ensure resources are immediately available to meet the urgent needs of children and youth in foster care and their caregivers in the aftermath of a natural disaster such as a fire, flood or earthquake. While the state is legally responsible for meeting the needs of children and youth in foster care, they rarely receive the funding needed to cover extra, unexpected costs that occur in the wake of a natural disaster, including the replacement of lost clothing, food and essential belongings, securing temporary housing, or travel to and from a temporary home to appointments and school. While everyone struggles in the face of natural disasters, children and youth in foster care and their caregivers deal with a unique set of challenges after an emergency and the state should ensure resources are immediately available post-disaster to reduce additional trauma and minimize further disruptions.″

Arguments in Support

According to co-sponsor, Children Now, ″The state is legally responsible for meeting the needs of children and youth in foster care, which is particularly critical in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster. Despite the state′s legal responsibility to support these children and youth, there is no dedicated funding available to cover extra, unexpected costs, including replacing lost belongings, securing temporary housing, or traveling between a temporary home and appointments or school.″

Arguments in Opposition

No opposition on file.

FISCAL COMMENTS

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee on August 29, 2025:

1. Unknown, ongoing General Fund cost pressures to fund the proposed Child Welfare Disaster Response Account.
2. Minor and absorbable costs to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) for state administration.

VOTES:

ASM HUMAN SERVICES: 7-0-0

YES: Lee, Castillo, Calderon, Elhawary, Essayli, Jackson, Celeste Rodriguez

ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 14-0-1

YES: Wicks, Arambula, Calderon, Caloza, Dixon, Elhawary, Fong, Mark González, Hart, Pacheco, Pellerin, Solache, Ta, Tangipa

ABS, ABST OR NV: Sanchez

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0-0

YES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Ávila Farías, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Castillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, DeMaio, Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Flora, Fong, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lee, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Ransom, Celeste Rodriguez, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zbur, Rivas

SENATE FLOOR: 40-0-0

YES: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Becker, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, Dahle, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, Limón, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Padilla, Pérez, Reyes, Richardson, Rubio, Seyarto, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Strickland, Umberg, Valladares, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener

UPDATED

VERSION: August 29, 2025

CONSULTANT: Jessica Langtry / HUM. S. / (916) 319-2089 FN: 0001628

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: AB 689

Author: Blanca Rubio (D)

Amended: 8/29/25 in Senate

Vote: 21

SENATE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE: 5-0, 6/30/25

AYES: Arreguín, Ochoa Bogh, Becker, Limón, Pérez

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 7-0, 8/29/25

AYES: Caballero, Seyarto, Cabaldon, Dahle, Grayson, Richardson, Wahab

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0, 6/2/25 - See last page for vote

SUBJECT: Foster youth: disaster aid assistance

SOURCE: Children Now, California Alliance of Caregivers, California Youth Connection

DIGEST: This bill establishes a statewide Child Welfare Disaster Response Fund and a Child Welfare Disaster Response Program to support the needs of foster children and youth and their caregivers during a disaster. Requires that funds awarded be made available to meet the housing, clothing, transportation, and other tangible needs of foster children and youth and their caregivers that occur within 180 days of a local emergency proclamation or a state of emergency proclamation.

ANALYSIS:

Existing Law:

1. Establishes a state and local system of child welfare services, including foster care, for children who have been adjudged by the court to be at risk of abuse and neglect or who have been abused or neglected, as specified. (Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) section 202)
2. Establishes a system of juvenile dependency for children for specified reasons, and designates that a child who meets certain criteria is within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court and may be adjudged as a dependent child of the court, as specified. (WIC section 300 et seq.)
3. Empowers the Governor to proclaim a state of emergency in an area affected or likely to be affected thereby when requested to do so by local government officials, or if he finds that local authority is inadequate to cope with the emergency. Requires the Governor to proclaim the termination of the state of emergency at the earliest possible date that conditions warrant. (Government Code sections 8625 and 8629)

This bill:

1. Establishes the Child Welfare Disaster Response Program (Program) to be administered by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS).
2. Creates the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account to fund the Program.
3. Provides that, upon appropriation by the Legislature, moneys in the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account shall be used for purposes of the Program and to support the needs of foster children and youth and their caregivers during a disaster.
4. Requires CDSS to determine eligibility criteria for the allocation of funds to applications.
5. Provides that a child county welfare agency, county probation department, or Indian tribe, as specified, may apply for funds on behalf of foster children and youth and their caregivers under supervision of the agency, department, or tribe based on the eligibility criterial established by CDSS.
6. Provides that funds awarded shall be made available to meet the housing, clothing, transportation, and other tangible needs of foster children and youth and their caregivers that occur within 180 days of a local emergency proclamation by a local government or a state of emergency proclamation by the Governor.
7. Provides that it is the intent of the Legislature that the Account may be replenished at the start of every fiscal year.
8. Provides that gifts, donations, and bequests may be made to the Account, subject to any conditions or restrictions from CDSS.
9. Provides that CDSS may implement, interpret, or make specific this chapter by means of all-county letters or similar written instructions from CDSS

Comments

According to the author. “AB 689 would establish a statewide Child Welfare Disaster Response Fund to ensure resources are immediately available to meet the urgent needs of children and youth in foster care and their caregivers in the aftermath of a natural disaster such as a fire, flood or earthquake. While the state is legally responsible for meeting the needs of children and youth in foster care, they rarely receive the funding needed to cover extra, unexpected costs that occur in the wake of a natural disaster, including the replacement of lost clothing, food and essential belongings, securing temporary housing, or travel to and from a temporary home to appointments and school. While everyone struggles in the face of natural disasters, children and youth in foster care and their caregivers deal with a unique set of challenges after an emergency and the state should ensure resources are immediately available post-disaster to reduce additional trauma and minimize further disruptions.”

Child Welfare Services (CWS) The CWS system is an essential component of the state’s safety net. Social workers in each county who receive reports of abuse or neglect, investigate and resolve those reports. When a case is substantiated, a family is either provided with services to ensure a child’s well-being and avoid court involvement, or a child is removed and placed into foster care. In 2024, the state’s child welfare agencies received 417,513 reports of abuse or neglect. Of these, 46,457 reports contained allegations that were substantiated and 17,390 children were removed from their homes and placed into foster care via the CWS system.

After the county child welfare department becomes involved with families, approximately 12 months of services are provided to children who are able to remain safely in their home while the family receives services. This is considered family preservation services and the child does not come under the jurisdiction of the juvenile dependency court during this time. If it is determined that a child cannot remain in the home, even with family preservation and support services, the child comes under the jurisdiction of the county’s juvenile dependency court while the family is served by a CWS system social worker.

If it is determined that a child cannot remain in the home, even with family preservation and support services, the child comes under the jurisdiction of the county’s juvenile dependency court while the family is served by a CWS system social worker. This system seeks to ensure the safety and protection of these children, and where possible, preserve and strengthen families through visitation and family reunification. It is the state’s goal to reunify a foster child or youth with their biological family whenever possible.

Disasters in California. According to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) data, California had fifteen declared disasters in 2024, eleven in 2023, five in 2022, eleven in 2021, and twenty-three in 2020, with most being fire related. The California Office of Emergency Services data shows as of May 28, 2025, there had been five new states of emergency declared by the Governor in 2025, involving twenty-five executive orders. The California Legislative Analyst’s Office reported that between 1950 and 2017 there were 95 Federal Major Disasters or Emergencies declared, and 189 Federal Fire Management Disaster Declarations. California has a long history of droughts and wildfires, but these are increasing in severity and in frequency due to climate change. The majority of the largest and most destructive wildfires in California have happened in the last 20 years.

Children in Foster Care During Natural Disasters. CDSS is the sole state agency mandated^[1] to oversee Child Welfare Services Disaster Response Plans for California. CDSS requests all counties have a Disaster Response Plan. CDSS issues an All County Letter or All County Information Notice that provides guidance to the counties. The Child Welfare Services Disaster Response Plan is sent to the 58 Child Welfare Services and Probation Department counties annually. Counties are required to update and return plans that address the following criteria to the Disaster Planning and Response Unit by December 31^st of each year.

The Disaster Response Plan describes the responsibilities and actions required for locating and monitoring dependent and probationary children under the care or supervision of the CDSS. Disaster response plans includes procedures describing how the county will do the following:

• Identify, locate, and continue availability of services for CWS children, probation children, non-minor dependents, including non-minor dependents residing in foster care, out-of-county placements, children placed in or out of California through the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, cross coordination with Tribal representative for Indian children in placements, and out-of-state non-minor dependents under county care or supervision who are displaced or adversely affected by a disaster;
• Respond appropriately to new CWS cases in areas adversely affected by a disaster and provide services in those cases;
• Address and provide care for unaccompanied minors;
• Remain in communication with caseworkers and other essential child welfare personnel who are displaced because of a disaster;
• Preserve essential program records; and
• Coordinate services and share information with other states and counties. Include a description of the process utilized by the county to ensure that information regarding children placed pursuant to the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children occurs with both the sending state and the CDSS.

CDSS’s Child Welfare Services Disaster Planning and Response Unit was created in 2021 to provide additional support during disasters to Child Welfare and Probation agencies across the state. The unit collaborates with all 58 counties to establish effective processes for making, activating, and operating emergency and disaster preparedness plans relating to children in placements under state care, from probation to foster care, to out-of-county placements. The Disaster Planning and Response Unit has outlined four emergency management phases as follows:

• Preparedness Phase (including increased readiness): The preparedness phase involves activities taken in advance of an emergency and include mitigation, emergency/disaster planning, meeting with counties to review current CWS Disaster Response Plan and provide feedback, and public education. These activities develop operational capabilities and effective response to a disaster.
• Response Phase (including Pre-emergency, Emergency Response, and Sustained Emergency): When a large-scale disaster is inevitable, actions are precautionary and emphasize protection of life. Activities during this phase include outreach to county(ies) affected to ensure the safety of children/youth, families, and staff; and communicating and coordinating services and information with local government agencies and child welfare personnel in areas adversely affected by a disaster.
• Recovery Phase: During the recovery phase, procedures for the Disaster Planning and Response Unit include reviewing and updating the county Child Welfare Disaster Response Plan Template and Guide for improvements in disaster preparedness to better address the needs of all children/youth and their families.
• Mitigation Phase: Mitigation efforts occur both before and following disaster events and include eliminating or reducing the impact of hazards which exist with the State and are a threat to life and property. Mitigating these hazards, both before and after a disaster is particularly important when evaluating the impact on dependent and probationary children under the care or supervision of the State.

This bill seeks to build on the response phase activities by providing the important aspect of funding to support the immediate needs of foster youth and their families during disasters.

Related/Prior Legislation

SB 589 (Alvarado-Gil, 2023) was identical to this bill. SB 589 was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

AB 1034 (Friedman, 2019) would have required every facility of each of the following types to have an emergency and disaster plans: community care facilities that serve children or nonminor dependents, resource families, certified or licensed foster family homes, small family homes, community care facilities that serve adults, residential care facilities for persons with chronic life-threatening illness, and child care centers. The bill would also have required the Community Care Licensing Division within CDSS to confirm during annual licensing visits that a plan is on file at the facility and includes the required content. This bill was held on suspense in Assembly Appropriations Committee.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee analysis:

• Unknown, ongoing General Fund cost pressures to fund the proposed Child Welfare Disaster Response Account.
• Minor and absorbable costs to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) for state administration.

SUPPORT: (Verified 8/29/25)

Children Now (Sponsor)

California Alliance of Caregivers (Co-Sponsor)

California Youth Connection (Co-Sponsor)

Advokids
Alliance for Children's Rights
Aspiranet
California Alliance of Child and Family Services
California Apartment Association
California Association of Christian Colleges and Universities
California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association
California Family Resource Association
California State Association of Counties
Child Abuse Prevention

County Welfare Directors Association of California
First Place for Youth
Western Center on Law & Poverty
Youth Law Center

OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/29/25)

None received

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0, 6/2/25

AYES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Ávila Farías, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Castillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, DeMaio, Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Flora, Fong, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lee, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Ransom, Celeste Rodriguez, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zbur, Rivas

Prepared by: Heather Hopkins / HUMAN S. / (916) 651-1524

9/2/25 18:04:43

**** END ****

1. Pursuant to the Child and Family Services Improvement Act of 2006, PL 109-288, Section 6 (16); Part B Section 422 of Title IV of the Social Security Act; and Senate Bill 703, Chapter 583, Section 29 (c) Statutes of 2007; and the WIC Section 16500.1(c)(1); ↑

SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Senator Anna Caballero, Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular Session

AB 689 (Blanca Rubio) - Foster youth: disaster aid assistance

Bill Summary:

AB 689 would create the Child Welfare Disaster Response Program.

*********** ANALYSIS ADDENDUM – SUSPENSE FILE ***********

The following information is revised to reflect amendments

adopted by the committee on August 29, 2025

Fiscal Impact:

• Unknown, ongoing General Fund cost pressures to fund the proposed Child Welfare Disaster Response Account.
• Minor and absorbable costs to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) for state administration.

Author Amendments:

Define “foster children and youth;” allow county probation departments and Indian tribes, as described, to be eligible for funds; and authorize CDSS to implement the bill’s provisions through all-county letters or similar written instructions, as specified.

Committee Amendments:

Remove the reference to the $2 million allocation.

-- END --

SENATE COMMITTEE ON

Senator Anna Caballero, Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular Session

AB 689 (Blanca Rubio) - Foster youth: disaster aid assistance

Bill Summary:

AB 689 would create the Child Welfare Disaster Response Program.

Fiscal Impact:

• Ongoing General Fund cost pressures of $2 million to fund the proposed Child Welfare Disaster Response Account.
• The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) anticipates minor and absorbable costs for state administration.

Background:

CDSS oversees a system of child welfare services, including foster care, for children who have been adjudged by the court to be at risk of abuse and neglect or who have been abused or neglected, as specified. Counties are required to update and maintain Child Welfare Services Disaster Response Plans that describe the responsibilities and actions required for locating and monitoring dependent and probationary children. Disaster response plans include procedures describing how the county will do the following:

• Identify, locate, and continue availability of services for CWS children, probation children, non-minor dependents, including non-minor dependents residing in foster care, out-of-county placements, children placed in or out of California through the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, cross coordination with Tribal representative for Indian children in placements, and out-of-state non-minor dependents under county care or supervision who are displaced or adversely affected by a disaster;
• Respond appropriately to new CWS cases in areas adversely affected by a disaster and provide services in those cases;
• Address and provide care for unaccompanied minors;
• Remain in communication with caseworkers and other essential child welfare personnel who are displaced because of a disaster;
• Preserve essential program records; and
• Coordinate services and share information with other states and counties.

CDSS’s Child Welfare Services Disaster Planning and Response Unit (DPRU) was created in 2021 to provide additional support during disasters to child welfare and probation agencies across the state. The DPRU collaborates with all 58 counties to establish processes for making, activating, and operating emergency and disaster preparedness plans relating to children in placements under state care, from probation to foster care, to out-of-county placements. The DPRU has outlined four emergency management phases: preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation.

Proposed Law:

Specific provisions of the bill would:

• Create the Child Welfare Disaster Response Program to be administered by the CDSS.
• Require CDSS to determine eligibility criteria for the allocation of funds to applicants; provide that county child welfare departments may apply for funds; and require that funds awarded must be available to meet the housing, clothing, transportation, and other tangible needs of foster children and youth and their caregivers that occur within 180 days of a local emergency proclamation by a local government or a state of emergency proclamation by the Governor.
• Create the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account; require that upon appropriation by the Legislature, $2 million must be allocated from the General Fund to the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account for purposes of the program and to support the needs of foster children and youth and their caregivers during a disaster; and provide that gifts, donations, and bequests may be made to the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account, subject to any conditions or restrictions from CDSS.

Related Legislation:

SB 589 (Alvarado-Gil, 2023) was similar to this bill. SB 589 was held on the suspense file in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

-- END --

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

Senator Arreguín, Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular

Subject: Foster youth: disaster aid assistance

SUMMARY

This bill would establish a statewide Child Welfare Disaster Response Fund and a Child Welfare Disaster Response Program to support the needs of foster children and youth and their caregivers during a disaster. Requires that funds awarded be made available to meet the housing, clothing, transportation, and other tangible needs of foster children and youth and their caregivers that occur within 180 days of a local emergency proclamation or a state of emergency proclamation.

ABSTRACT

Existing Law:

1. Establishes a state and local system of child welfare services, including foster care, for children who have been adjudged by the court to be at risk of abuse and neglect or who have been abused or neglected, as specified. (Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) 202)
2. Establishes a system of juvenile dependency for children for specified reasons, and designates that a child who meets certain criteria is within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court and may be adjudged as a dependent child of the court, as specified. (WIC 300 et seq.)
3. Empowers the Governor to proclaim a state of emergency in an area affected or likely to be affected thereby when requested to do so by local government officials, or if he finds that local authority is inadequate to cope with the emergency. Requires the Governor to proclaim the termination of the state of emergency at the earliest possible date that conditions warrant. (Government Code 8625 and 8629)

This Bill:

1. Establishes the Child Welfare Disaster Response Program (Program) to be administered by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS).
2. Creates the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account (Account) to fund the Program.
3. Provides that, upon appropriation, two million dollars be allocated from the General Fund to the Account for purposes of the Program and to support the needs of foster children and youth and their caregivers during a disaster.
4. Requires CDSS to determine eligibility criteria for the allocation of funds to applications.
5. Provides that county child welfare departments may apply for funds.
6. Provides that funds awarded shall be made available to meet the housing, clothing, transportation, and other tangible needs of foster children and youth and their caregivers that occur within 180 days of a local emergency proclamation by a local government or a state of emergency proclamation by the Governor.
7. Provides that it is the intent of the Legislature that the Account may be replenished at the start of every fiscal year.
8. Provides that gifts, donations, and bequests may be made to the Account, subject to any conditions or restrictions from CDSS.
   

FISCAL IMPACT

According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee analysis:

1. “Ongoing General Fund (GF) cost pressures of up to $2 million annually to fund the account and to replenish it each fiscal year. Actual costs will vary depending on the number and extent of local and state emergency proclamations each year.
2. “CDSS indicates it would use existing disaster-response infrastructure to administer the program and, therefore, anticipates minor and absorbable costs.

“The author has submitted a one-time $2 million GF budget request to support the requirements of this bill.”

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

Purpose of the Bill:

According to the author, “AB 689 would establish a statewide Child Welfare Disaster Response Fund to ensure resources are immediately available to meet the urgent needs of children and youth in foster care and their caregivers in the aftermath of a natural disaster such as a fire, flood or earthquake. While the state is legally responsible for meeting the needs of children and youth in foster care, they rarely receive the funding needed to cover extra, unexpected costs that occur in the wake of a natural disaster, including the replacement of lost clothing, food and essential belongings, securing temporary housing, or travel to and from a temporary home to appointments and school. While everyone struggles in the face of natural disasters, children and youth in foster care and their caregivers deal with a unique set of challenges after an emergency and the state should ensure resources are immediately available post-disaster to reduce additional trauma and minimize further disruptions.”

Child Welfare Services (CWS)

The CWS system is an essential component of the state’s safety net. Social workers in each county who receive reports of abuse or neglect, investigate and resolve those reports. When a case is substantiated, a family is either provided with services to ensure a child’s well-being and avoid court involvement, or a child is removed and placed into foster care. In 2024, the state’s child welfare agencies received 417,513 reports of abuse or neglect. Of these, 46,457 reports contained allegations that were substantiated and 17,390 children were removed from their homes and placed into foster care via the CWS system.

After the county child welfare department becomes involved with families, approximately 12 months of services are provided to children who are able to remain safely in their home while the family receives services. This is considered family preservation services and the child does not come under the jurisdiction of the juvenile dependency court during this time. If it is determined that a child cannot remain in the home, even with family preservation and support services, the child comes under the jurisdiction of the county’s juvenile dependency court while the family is served by a CWS system social worker.

If it is determined that a child cannot remain in the home, even with family preservation and support services, the child comes under the jurisdiction of the county’s juvenile dependency court while the family is served by a CWS system social worker. This system seeks to ensure the safety and protection of these children, and where possible, preserve and strengthen families through visitation and family reunification. It is the state’s goal to reunify a foster child or youth with their biological family whenever possible.

Generally, if a child cannot be safely returned home after the time allotted for reunification services ends, the court terminates the parental rights of the child’s parents. The child’s case plan then focuses on permanency services, in an effort to connect the child to a permanent placement through adoption or guardianship. If an adoption or guardianship is not established, a child may remain in long-term foster care. The child is always supposed to be placed in the most family like setting, with short-term residential treatment programs used only as necessary to provide intensive services. A child remains eligible for services for the length of their time in the child welfare system, time limits relate to the provision of services to the child’s parents.

In some circumstances, existing law allows the court to not provide reunification services at all, and parental rights are terminated without the opportunity for reunification. These circumstances include, but are not limited to, the following examples: when the whereabouts of the parent are unknown; when the parent is suffering from a mental disability, as provided, that renders the parent incapable of utilizing those services; when the parent caused the death of another child through abuse or neglect; after a finding of sever sexual abuse; when the parent has been convicted of a violent felony, as provided; and in some instances where a prior child of the parent became a dependent of the court and was unable to reunify.

Disasters in California

According to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) data, California had fifteen declared disasters in 2024, eleven in 2023, five in 2022, eleven in 2021, and twenty-three in 2020, with most being fire related. The California Office of Emergency Services data shows as of May 28, 2025, there had been five new states of emergency declared by the Governor in 2025, involving twenty-five executive orders. The California Legislative Analyst’s Office reported that between 1950 and 2017 there were 95 Federal Major Disasters or Emergencies declared, and 189 Federal Fire Management Disaster Declarations. California has a long history of droughts and wildfires, but these are increasing in severity and in frequency due to climate change. The majority of the largest and most destructive wildfires in California have happened in the last 20 years.

Children in Foster Care During Natural Disasters

CDSS is the sole state agency mandated^[1] to oversee Child Welfare Services Disaster Response Plans for California. CDSS requests all counties have a Disaster Response Plan. CDSS issues an All County Letter or All County Information Notice that provides guidance to the counties. The Child Welfare Services Disaster Response Plan is sent to the 58 Child Welfare Services and Probation Department counties annually. Counties are required to update and return plans that address the following criteria to the Disaster Planning and Response Unit by December 31^st of each year.

The Disaster Response Plan describes the responsibilities and actions required for locating and monitoring dependent and probationary children under the care or supervision of the CDSS. Disaster response plans includes procedures describing how the county will do the following:

• Identify, locate, and continue availability of services for CWS children, probation children, non-minor dependents, including non-minor dependents residing in foster care, out-of-county placements, children placed in or out of California through the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, cross coordination with Tribal representative for Indian children in placements, and out-of-state non-minor dependents under county care or supervision who are displaced or adversely affected by a disaster;
• Respond appropriately to new CWS cases in areas adversely affected by a disaster and provide services in those cases;
  
• Address and provide care for unaccompanied minors;
  
• Remain in communication with caseworkers and other essential child welfare personnel who are displaced because of a disaster;
  
• Preserve essential program records; and
• Coordinate services and share information with other states and counties. Include a description of the process utilized by the county to ensure that information regarding children placed pursuant to the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children occurs with both the sending state and the CDSS.

CDSS’s Child Welfare Services Disaster Planning and Response Unit was created in 2021 to provide additional support during disasters to Child Welfare and Probation agencies across the state. The unit collaborates with all 58 counties to establish effective processes for making, activating, and operating emergency and disaster preparedness plans relating to children in placements under state care, from probation to foster care, to out-of-county placements. The Disaster Planning and Response Unit has outlined four emergency management phases as follows:

• Preparedness Phase (including increased readiness): The preparedness phase involves activities taken in advance of an emergency and include mitigation, emergency/disaster planning, meeting with counties to review current CWS Disaster Response Plan and provide feedback, and public education. These activities develop operational capabilities and effective response to a disaster.
• Response Phase (including Pre-emergency, Emergency Response, and Sustained Emergency): When a large-scale disaster is inevitable, actions are precautionary and emphasize protection of life. Activities during this phase include outreach to county(ies) affected to ensure the safety of children/youth, families, and staff; and communicating and coordinating services and information with local government agencies and child welfare personnel in areas adversely affected by a disaster.
• Recovery Phase: During the recovery phase, procedures for the Disaster Planning and Response Unit include reviewing and updating the county Child Welfare Disaster Response Plan Template and Guide for improvements in disaster preparedness to better address the needs of all children/youth and their families.
  
• Mitigation Phase: Mitigation efforts occur both before and following disaster events and include eliminating or reducing the impact of hazards which exist with the State and are a threat to life and property. Mitigating these hazards, both before and after a disaster is particularly important when evaluating the impact on dependent and probationary children under the care or supervision of the State.

This bill seeks to build on the response phase activities by providing the important aspect of funding to support the immediate needs of foster youth and their families during disasters.

Related/Prior Legislation:

SB 589 (Alvarado-Gil, 2023) was identical to this bill. SB 589 was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

AB 1034 (Friedman, 2019) would have required every facility of each of the following types to have an emergency and disaster plans: community care facilities that serve children or nonminor dependents, resource families, certified or licensed foster family homes, small family homes, community care facilities that serve adults, residential care facilities for persons with chronic life-threatening illness, and child care centers. The bill would also have required the Community Care Licensing Division within CDSS to confirm during annual licensing visits that a plan is on file at the facility and includes the required content. This bill was held on suspense in Assembly Appropriations Committee.

COMMENTS

A 2020 paper published in the University of Cincinnati’s Children, Youth and Environments Journal looking at policies in the United States, New Zealand, and Japan found that “while all children are vulnerable in a natural disaster, children in foster care because of maltreatment are particularly vulnerable. In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, governments that do not specifically plan for these children may be unable to account for their welfare or location, and foster parents may not have access to government resources.” This bill seeks to address this increased vulnerability by establishing a statewide Child Welfare Disaster Response Fund and a Child Welfare Disaster Response Program to support the needs of foster children and youth and their caregivers during a disaster. Having these funds available to foster children and youth and caregivers to meet the housing, clothing, transportation, and other tangible needs that occur within 180 days of a local emergency proclamation or a state of emergency proclamation will help to ensure these children and families receive the supports that they need in a timely fashion.

PRIOR VOTES

POSITIONS

Support:

Children Now (Sponsor)

California Alliance of Caregivers (Co-Sponsor)

California Youth Connection (Co-Sponsor)

Advokids

Alliance for Children's Rights
Aspiranet
California Alliance of Child and Family Services
California Apartment Association

California Association of Christian Colleges and Universities

California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association
California Family Resource Association
California State Association of Counties (CSAC)
Child Abuse Prevention Center and its Affiliates Safe Kids California, Prevent Child Abuse California and the California Family Resource Association; the

County Welfare Directors Association of California
First Place for Youth

Western Center on Law & Poverty, INC.
Youth Law Center

Oppose:

None received

-- END --

1. Pursuant to the Child and Family Services Improvement Act of 2006, PL 109-288, Section 6 (16); Part B Section 422 of Title IV of the Social Security Act; and Senate Bill 703, Chapter 583, Section 29 (c) Statutes of 2007; and the WIC Section 16500.1(c)(1); ↑

ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:AB 689

Author:(Blanca Rubio)

As Introduced Ver:February 14, 2025

Majority vote

SUMMARY

Creates the Child Welfare Disaster Response Program (Program) to support the needs of foster youth and their caregivers during a disaster.

Major Provisions

1. Creates the Program, to be administered by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and creates the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account (Account) to fund the Program.
2. Allocates, upon appropriation, $2 million from the General Fund to the Account for purposes of the Program and to support the needs of foster youth and their caregivers during a disaster.
3. Requires CDSS to determine eligibility criteria for the allocation of funds to applicants.
4. Permits county child welfare departments to apply for funds.
5. Requires funds awarded to be available to meet the housing, clothing, transportation, and other tangible needs of foster youth and their caregivers that occur within 180 days of a local emergency proclamation by a local government or a state of emergency proclamation by the Governor.
6. States that legislative intent that the Account may be replenished at the start of every fiscal year.
7. Permits gifts, donations, and bequests to be made to the Account, subject to any conditions or restrictions from CDSS.

COMMENTS

Child Welfare Services (CWS). California's CWS system was established with the goal of protecting youth from abuse and neglect and is designed to provide safety, health, and overall well-being of children. When a child is identified as being at risk of abuse or neglect, reports can be made to either law enforcement or a county child welfare agency. Often, these reports are submitted by mandated reporters who are legally required to report suspicion of child abuse or neglect due to their profession, such as a teacher or healthcare provider.

California's CWS programs are administered by the 58 individual counties with each county organizing and operating its own program of child protection based on local needs while adhering to state and federal regulations. When a child welfare case is open, counties are the primary governmental entity interacting with children and families when addressing issues of child abuse and neglect, and are responsible, either directly or through providers, for obtaining or providing the interventions and relevant services to protect children and assist families with issues related to child abuse and neglect.

CDSS secures federal funding to support CWS programs, provides statewide best practices training for social workers, and conducts program regulatory oversight and administration, and is responsible for the development of policy while also providing direct services such as adoption placements.

As of January 1, 2025, there are 38,894 youth up to 21 years of age in foster care.

Disaster Services. CDSS currently supports counties' mass care and shelter programs, as well as state and federal grant recovery programs. CDSS also supports local agencies to provide temporary shelter for those experiencing a disaster or emergency. The shelters are typically opened and operated by the American Red Cross and have assistance from local or county employees. During emergencies or disasters, Regional Emergency Operations Centers are used as a coordination hub and are managed by the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (CalOES). California has three Regional Emergency Operation Centers which are located in the Inland, Coastal, and Southern regions of the state. CDSS staff is permitted to deploy to one or all of the three Regional Emergency Operations Centers at the request of CalOES in situations involving mass care, sheltering, or other human services functions that fall under CDSS' expertise.

CalOES serves as California's overall coordinator and agent to secure federal government resources through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and responds, directs, and coordinates state and federal resources across the state during all major emergencies and disasters. CalOES also supports local jurisdictions and communities through planning and preparedness activities, training, and facilitating the immediate response to an emergency through the longer‐term recovery phase. Once activated by CalOES, CDSS staff assist in the mass care and shelter function by: tracking shelter status and feeding services; coordinating state resources; and supporting the American Red Cross in sheltering operations.

CDSS is also authorized to provide grant assistance through the Individuals and Households Program (IHP) and the State Supplemental Grant Program (SSGP).The IHP is a joint federal and state program that can provide assistance following a disaster declared by the President. Under IHP, FEMA is authorized to provide awards in the form of rent, home repair or replacement, transportation repair or replacement, funeral expenses, personal property, medical, dental or other miscellaneous expenses. According to CDSS, FEMA disaster assistance covers basic needs, but does not normally compensate disaster victims for their entire loss. The SSGP is 100% state-funded and is authorized to provide grant funds to assist people who have suffered damage in a disaster area declared by the President when the federal assistance to IHP is implemented. The grants are designed to assist with any eligible items not already addressed by the IHP and in order to be eligible for SSGP, recipients are required to have first applied to FEMA and maximized the IHP award.

This bill would add to the array of grants and programs that direct resources to vulnerable populations affected by disasters by creating a program to specifically support the needs of foster youth and their caregivers during a disaster. The Program will allow counties to apply for funds to meet the housing, clothing, transportation, and other tangible needs of foster youth and their caregivers that occur within 180 days of a local emergency proclamation by a local government or a state of emergency proclamation by the Governor.

Recent Disasters. With an increase in climate-change related events, communities throughout California are impacted. The list of recent Governor-proclaimed disasters in California include severe winter storms, drought, floods, earthquakes, and fires. The impact of the recent fires in Los Angeles in January of 2025 is still being felt, as the affected communities try to rebuild. The fires burned over 57,000 acres of land and destroyed more than 18,000 homes and structures.

According to CDSS' Disaster Planning and Response Unit, they have daily communication and report outs with Los Angeles County on the impacted youth from the wildfire incidents.

According to CDSS, Los Angeles County had 442 child welfare/probation-supervised youth and 401 Los Angeles County employees that were initially impacted by these wildfire incidents. Additionally, 20 children are confirmed as impacted due to 13 homes/facilities burning down.

The Camp Fire, which in 2018 burned over 150,000 acres and destroyed more than 18,000 structures in Butte County, forced thousands of families to evacuate their homes. As a result, displaced people were forced to stay in shelters, hotels or tents, and parking lots, with many having no access to clothing or food beyond what they brought with them. According to Youth for Change and Youth and Family Programs, the Camp Fire displaced about 30 of the county's 500 foster youth. Regulations require resource families to seek approval from their social worker should they live more than two hours from their agency or cohabitate with other people, even in an emergency, which limits many families' ability to immediately move out of the area where there may be more resources. Due to these limitations, having access to immediate assistance during a disaster becomes an acute necessity for resource families who house foster youth.

According to the Author

"[This bill] would establish a statewide Child Welfare Disaster Response Fund to ensure resources are immediately available to meet the urgent needs of children and youth in foster care and their caregivers in the aftermath of a natural disaster such as a fire, flood or earthquake. While the state is legally responsible for meeting the needs of children and youth in foster care, they rarely receive the funding needed to cover extra, unexpected costs that occur in the wake of a natural disaster, including the replacement of lost clothing, food and essential belongings, securing temporary housing, or travel to and from a temporary home to appointments and school. While everyone struggles in the face of natural disasters, children and youth in foster care and their caregivers deal with a unique set of challenges after an emergency and the state should ensure resources are immediately available post-disaster to reduce additional trauma and minimize further disruptions."

Arguments in Support

According to co-sponsor, Children Now, "The state is legally responsible for meeting the needs of children and youth in foster care, which is particularly critical in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster. Despite the state's legal responsibility to support these children and youth, there is no dedicated funding available to cover extra, unexpected costs, including replacing lost belongings, securing temporary housing, or traveling between a temporary home and appointments or school."

Arguments in Opposition

None on file.

FISCAL COMMENTS

According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee on April 9, 2025:

1. Ongoing General Fund (GF) cost pressures of up to $2 million annually to fund the account and to replenish it each fiscal year. Actual costs will vary depending on the number and extent of local and state emergency proclamations each year.
2. CDSS indicates it would use existing disaster-response infrastructure to administer the program and, therefore, anticipates minor and absorbable costs.

The author has submitted a one-time $2 million GF budget request to support the requirements of this bill.

VOTES

ASM HUMAN SERVICES: 7-0-0

YES: Lee, Castillo, Calderon, Elhawary, Essayli, Jackson, Celeste Rodriguez

ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 14-0-1

YES: Wicks, Arambula, Calderon, Caloza, Dixon, Elhawary, Fong, Mark González, Hart, Pacheco, Pellerin, Solache, Ta, Tangipa

ABS, ABST OR NV: Sanchez

UPDATED

VERSION: February 14, 2025

CONSULTANT: Jessica Langtry / HUM. S. / (916) 319-2089 FN: 0000816

Date of Hearing: April 9, 2025

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Buffy Wicks, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 689

Author:(Blanca Rubio) – As Introduced Ver:February 14, 2025

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No

SUMMARY:

This bill establishes the Child Welfare Disaster Response Program to support the needs of foster youth and their caregivers during a disaster. The bill requires, upon appropriation, $2 million be allocated from the General Fund for the program.

Specifically, this bill:

1. Establishes the Child Welfare Disaster Response Program to be administered by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), and creates the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account (account) to fund the program.
2. Requires, upon appropriation by the Legislature, $2 million be allocated from the General Fund to the account for purposes of the program.
3. Requires CDSS to determine eligibility criteria for the allocation of funds to applicants.
4. Authorizes county child welfare departments to apply for funds.
5. Requires funds awarded be available for housing, clothing, transportation, and other tangible needs of foster children and youth and their caregivers that occur within 180 days of a local emergency proclamation or a state of emergency proclamation by the Governor.
6. Allows gifts, donations, and bequests to be made to the account, subject to conditions or restrictions from CDSS.
7. States legislative intent that the account may be replenished at the start of every fiscal year.

FISCAL EFFECT:

1. Ongoing General Fund (GF) cost pressures of up to $2 million annually to fund the account and to replenish it each fiscal year. Actual costs will vary depending on the number and extent of local and state emergency proclamations each year.
2. CDSS indicates it would use existing disaster-response infrastructure to administer the program and, therefore, anticipates minor and absorbable costs.

The author has submitted a one-time $2 million GF budget request to support the requirements of this bill.

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose. The author seeks to ensure foster youth and their caregivers have necessary resources should they experience a natural disaster. According to the author:

While the state is legally responsible for meeting the needs of children and youth in foster care, they rarely receive the funding needed to cover extra, unexpected costs that occur in the wake of a natural disaster, including the replacement of lost clothing, food and essential belongings, securing temporary housing, or travel to and from a temporary home to appointments and school. While everyone struggles in the face of natural disasters, children and youth in foster care and their caregivers deal with a unique set of challenges after a fire or flood and the state should ensure resources are immediately available post-disaster to reduce additional trauma and minimize further disruptions.

1. Background. CDSS oversees a system of child welfare services, including foster care, for children who have been adjudged by the court to be at risk of abuse and neglect or who have been abused or neglected. California's Child Welfare Services (CWS) programs are administered at the local level by each of the state’s 58 counties. As of October 1, 2024, there were 40,165 youth in foster care, ranging in age from birth through 20 years.

CDSS’s CWS Disaster Planning and Response Unit (DPRU) was created in 2021 to provide additional support during disasters to child welfare and probation agencies across the state. The DPRU collaborates with all 58 counties to establish processes for making, activating, and operating emergency and disaster preparedness plans relating to children in placements under state care, from probation to foster care, to out-of-county placements. The DPRU has outlined four emergency management phases: preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation. Activities in the response phase include “communicating and coordinating services and information with local government agencies and child welfare personnel in areas adversely affected by a disaster.” The DPRU provides only non-monetary support for help accessing resources.

1. Recent Disasters. On January 7, 2025, two wildfires, the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire, ignited in Los Angeles County. These fires burned over 57,000 acres of land and destroyed over 16,000 homes and structures. According to CDSS, Los Angeles County had 442 child welfare or probation-supervised youth and 401 Los Angeles County employees who were initially impacted by these wildfires. Additionally, 20 children are confirmed as impacted due to 13 homes or facilities burning down.

According to Youth for Change and Youth and Family Programs, the 2018 Camp Fire, which burned over 150,000 acres and destroyed more than 18,000 structures in Butte County, displaced about 30 of the county’s 500 foster youth.

Regulations require a resource family (foster family) to seek approval from the family’s social worker should the family live more than two hours from its agency or cohabitate with other people, even in an emergency. This restriction can limit a resource family’s ability to immediately move from a disaster-impacted area to a location where services and resources may be available.

This bill creates the Child Welfare Disaster Response Program and provides funding to meet the immediate housing, clothing, transportation, and other tangible needs of foster youth and their caregivers that occur within 180 days of a declared local or state disaster.

1. Prior Legislation. SB 589 (Alvarado-Gil), of 2023-24 Legislative Session, was nearly identical to this bill. SB 589 was held on this committee’s suspense file.

Analysis Prepared by: Jennifer Swenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: March 25, 2025

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

Alex Lee, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 689 (

Author:Blanca Rubio) – As Introduced Ver:February 14, 2025

SUBJECT: Foster youth: disaster aid assistance

SUMMARY: Creates the Child Welfare Disaster Response Program (Program) to support the needs of foster youth and their caregivers during a disaster. Specifically, this bill:

1. Creates the Program, to be administered by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and creates the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account (Account) to fund the Program.
2. Allocates, upon appropriation, $2 million from the General Fund to the Account for purposes of the Program and to support the needs of foster youth and their caregivers during a disaster.
3. Requires CDSS to determine eligibility criteria for the allocation of funds to applicants.
4. Permits county child welfare departments to apply for funds.
5. Requires funds awarded to be available to meet the housing, clothing, transportation, and other tangible needs of foster youth and their caregivers that occur within 180 days of a local emergency proclamation by a local government or a state of emergency proclamation by the Governor.
6. States that legislative intent that the Account may be replenished at the start of every fiscal year.
7. Permits gifts, donations, and bequests to be made to the Account, subject to any conditions or restrictions from CDSS.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Establishes a state and local system of child welfare services, including foster care, for children who have been adjudged by the court to be at risk of abuse and neglect or who have been abused or neglected. (Welfare and Institutions Code [WIC] § 202 et seq.)
   
2. Establishes a system of juvenile dependency for children for specified reasons, and designates that a child who meets certain criteria is within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court and may be adjudged as a dependent child of the court. (WIC § 300 et seq.)
3. Requires, if a child is adjudged a dependent child of the court, and the court orders that a parent shall retain custody of the child subject to the supervision of the social worker, the parents to participate in child welfare services or services provided by an appropriate agency designated by the court. (WIC § 362(c))
4. Requires every hearing in which an order is made placing a child under the supervision of the juvenile court pursuant to WIC § 300, and in which the child is not removed from the physical custody of their parent, to be continued to a specific future date not to exceed six months after the date of the original dispositional hearing. (WIC § 364(a))
5. Empowers the Governor to proclaim a state of emergency in an area affected or likely to be affected thereby when requested to do so by local government officials, or if the Governor finds that local authority is inadequate to cope with the emergency. Requires the Governor to proclaim the termination of the state of emergency at the earliest possible date that conditions warrant. (Government Code § 8625 and 8629)
   

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown, this bill has not been analyzed by a fiscal committee.

COMMENTS:

Background: Child Welfare Services (CWS). California’s CWS system was established with the goal of protecting youth from abuse and neglect and is designed to provide safety, health, and overall well-being of children. When a child is identified as being at risk of abuse or neglect, reports can be made to either law enforcement or a county child welfare agency. Often, these reports are submitted by mandated reporters who are legally required to report suspicion of child abuse or neglect due to their profession, such as a teacher or healthcare provider.

California's CWS programs are administered by the 58 individual counties with each county organizing and operating its own program of child protection based on local needs while adhering to state and federal regulations. When a child welfare case is open, counties are the primary governmental entity interacting with children and families when addressing issues of child abuse and neglect, and are responsible, either directly or through providers, for obtaining or providing the interventions and relevant services to protect children and assist families with issues related to child abuse and neglect.

CDSS secures federal funding to support CWS programs, provides statewide best practices training for social workers, and conducts program regulatory oversight and administration, and is responsible for the development of policy while also providing direct services such as adoption placements.

As of October 1, 2024, there are 40,165 youth between birth and 20 years of age in foster care.

Disaster Services. CDSS currently supports counties’ mass care and shelter programs, as well as state and federal grant recovery programs. CDSS also supports local agencies to provide temporary shelter for those experiencing a disaster or emergency. The shelters are typically opened and operated by the American Red Cross and have assistance from local or county employees. During emergencies or disasters, Regional Emergency Operations Centers are used as a coordination hub and are managed by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES). California has three Regional Emergency Operation Centers which are located in the Inland, Coastal, and Southern regions of the state. CDSS staff is permitted to deploy to one or all of the three Regional Emergency Operations Centers at the request of CalOES in situations involving mass care, sheltering, or other human services functions that fall under CDSS’ expertise.

CalOES serves as California’s overall coordinator and agent to secure federal government resources through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and responds, directs, and coordinates state and federal resources across the state during all major emergencies and disasters. CalOES also supports local jurisdictions and communities through planning and preparedness activities, training, and facilitating the immediate response to an emergency through the longer‐term recovery phase. Once activated by CalOES, CDSS staff assist in the mass care and shelter function by: tracking shelter status and feeding services; coordinating state resources; and supporting the American Red Cross in sheltering operations.

CDSS is also authorized to provide grant assistance through the Individuals and Households Program (IHP) and the State Supplemental Grant Program (SSGP).The IHP is a joint federal and state program that can provide assistance following a disaster declared by the President. Under IHP, FEMA is authorized to provide awards in the form of rent, home repair or replacement, transportation repair or replacement, funeral expenses, personal property, medical, dental or other miscellaneous expenses. According to CDSS, FEMA disaster assistance covers basic needs, but does not normally compensate disaster victims for their entire loss. The SSGP is 100% state-funded and is authorized to provide grant funds to assist people who have suffered damage in a disaster area declared by the President when the federal assistance to IHP is implemented. The grants are designed to assist with any eligible items not already addressed by the IHP and in order to be eligible for SSGP, recipients are required to have first applied to FEMA and maximized the IHP award.

This bill would add to the array of grants and programs that direct resources to vulnerable populations affected by disasters by creating a program to specifically support the needs of foster youth and their caregivers during a disaster. The Program will allow counties to apply for funds to meet the housing, clothing, transportation, and other tangible needs of foster youth and their caregivers that occur within 180 days of a local emergency proclamation by a local government or a state of emergency proclamation by the Governor.

Recent Disasters. With an increase in climate-change related events, communities throughout California are impacted. The list of recent Governor-proclaimed disasters in California include severe winter storms, drought, floods, earthquakes, and fires. The impact of the recent fires in Los Angeles in January of 2025 is still being felt, as the affected communities try to rebuild. The fires burned over 57,000 acres of land and destroyed more than 18,000 homes and structures. According to CDSS’ Disaster Planning and Response Unit, they have daily communication and report outs with Los Angeles County on the impacted youth from the wildfire incidents.

According to CDSS, Los Angeles County had 442 child welfare/probation-supervised youth and 401 Los Angeles County employees that were initially impacted by these wildfire incidents. Additionally, 20 children are confirmed as impacted due to 13 homes/facilities burning down.

The Camp Fire, which in 2018 burned over 150,000 acres and destroyed more than 18,000 structures in Butte County, forced thousands of families to evacuate their homes. As a result, displaced people were forced to stay in shelters, hotels or tents, and parking lots, with many having no access to clothing or food beyond what they brought with them.

According to Youth for Change and Youth and Family Programs, the Camp Fire displaced about 30 of the county’s 500 foster youth. Regulations require resource families to seek approval from their social worker should they live more than two hours from their agency or cohabitate with other people, even in an emergency, which limits many families’ ability to immediately move out of the area where there may be more resources. Due to these limitations, having access to immediate assistance during a disaster becomes an acute necessity for resource families who house foster youth.

Author’s Statement: According to the Author, [This bill] would establish a statewide Child Welfare Disaster Response Fund to ensure resources are immediately available to meet the urgent needs of children and youth in foster care and their caregivers in the aftermath of a natural disaster such as a fire, flood or earthquake. While the state is legally responsible for meeting the needs of children and youth in foster care, they rarely receive the funding needed to cover extra, unexpected costs that occur in the wake of a natural disaster, including the replacement of lost clothing, food and essential belongings, securing temporary housing, or travel to and from a temporary home to appointments and school. While everyone struggles in the face of natural disasters, children and youth in foster care and their caregivers deal with a unique set of challenges after an emergency and the state should ensure resources are immediately available post-disaster to reduce additional trauma and minimize further disruptions.”

Equity Implications: Youth in foster care have not only experienced the trauma of abuse or neglect, but trauma related to removal from their homes and communities. Early childhood trauma, as well as the trauma of system-involvement often lead to inequities and poor educational and employment outcomes. Natural disasters can compound their trauma and further de-stabilize families who may have lost their housing as result. Losing housing is a traumatic event for any family to experience and can be particularly acute for when foster families are evacuated or displaced. There are challenges in maintaining stability and minimizing further disruptions for foster youth. This bill attempts to mitigate these challenges, by ensuring foster youth and their caregivers will have access to dedicated resources to help them survive and rebuild in the event they are impacted by a natural disaster.

RELATED AND PRIOR LEGISLATION:

SB 589 (Alvarado-Gil) of 2023, was identical to this bill. SB 589 was held on the Assembly Appropriations Committee suspense file.

AB 1034 (Friedman) of 2019, would have required every facility of each of the following to have an emergency and disaster plans: community care facilities that serve children or nonminor dependents, resource families, certified or licensed foster family homes, small family homes, community care facilities that serve adults, residential care facilities for persons with chronic life-threatening illness, and child care centers. AB 1034 would have also required the Community Care Licensing Division within CDSS to confirm during annual licensing visits that a plan is on file at the facility and includes the required content. AB 1034 was held on the Assembly Appropriations Committee suspense file.

AB 3098 (Friedman), Chapter 348, Statutes of 2018, required residential care facilities for the elderly (RCFEs) to have detailed emergency and disaster plans and to provide training on the plan to staff.

AB 749 (Wolk), Chapter 477, Statutes of 2008, required RCFEs licensed by CDSS to have a specified emergency plan available to residents and local emergency responders and, further, required CDSS to confirm during licensing visits that the plan is on file at the facility.

AB 2101 (Wolk) of 2008, would have required RCFEs to develop emergency plans and makes specific requirements for providing notices to residents and potential residents in the event of rate increases. AB 2101 was held on the Assembly Appropriations Committee suspense file.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

California Alliance of Caregivers (Co-Sponsor)

Children Now (Co-Sponsor)

Aspiranet

California Alliance of Child and Family Services

California Behavioral Health Association

California Family Resource Association

Center for Public Interest Law/children's Advocacy Institute/university of San Diego

Child Abuse Prevention Center and Its Affiliates Safe Kids California, Prevent Child Abuse California and The California Family Resource Association

Children's Law Center of California

County Welfare Directors Association of California

First Place for Youth

Good River Partners

John Burton Advocates for Youth

Public Counsel

Safe & Sound

Youth Law Center

Opposition

None on file.

Analysis Prepared by: Jessica Langtry / HUM. S. / (916) 319-2089

Date of Hearing: March 25, 2025

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

Alex Lee, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 689 (

Author:Blanca Rubio) – As Introduced Ver:February 14, 2025

SUBJECT: Foster youth: disaster aid assistance

SUMMARY: Creates the Child Welfare Disaster Response Program (Program) to support the needs of foster youth and their caregivers during a disaster. Specifically, this bill:

1. Creates the Program, to be administered by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and creates the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account (Account) to fund the Program.
2. Allocates, upon appropriation, $2 million from the General Fund to the Account for purposes of the Program and to support the needs of foster youth and their caregivers during a disaster.
3. Requires CDSS to determine eligibility criteria for the allocation of funds to applicants.
4. Permits county child welfare departments to apply for funds.
5. Requires funds awarded to be available to meet the housing, clothing, transportation, and other tangible needs of foster youth and their caregivers that occur within 180 days of a local emergency proclamation by a local government or a state of emergency proclamation by the Governor.
6. States that legislative intent that the Account may be replenished at the start of every fiscal year.
7. Permits gifts, donations, and bequests to be made to the Account, subject to any conditions or restrictions from CDSS.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Establishes a state and local system of child welfare services, including foster care, for children who have been adjudged by the court to be at risk of abuse and neglect or who have been abused or neglected. (Welfare and Institutions Code [WIC] § 202 et seq.)
   
2. Establishes a system of juvenile dependency for children for specified reasons, and designates that a child who meets certain criteria is within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court and may be adjudged as a dependent child of the court. (WIC § 300 et seq.)
3. Requires, if a child is adjudged a dependent child of the court, and the court orders that a parent shall retain custody of the child subject to the supervision of the social worker, the parents to participate in child welfare services or services provided by an appropriate agency designated by the court. (WIC § 362(c))
4. Requires every hearing in which an order is made placing a child under the supervision of the juvenile court pursuant to WIC § 300, and in which the child is not removed from the physical custody of their parent, to be continued to a specific future date not to exceed six months after the date of the original dispositional hearing. (WIC § 364(a))
5. Empowers the Governor to proclaim a state of emergency in an area affected or likely to be affected thereby when requested to do so by local government officials, or if the Governor finds that local authority is inadequate to cope with the emergency. Requires the Governor to proclaim the termination of the state of emergency at the earliest possible date that conditions warrant. (Government Code § 8625 and 8629)
   

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown, this bill has not been analyzed by a fiscal committee.

COMMENTS:

Background: Child Welfare Services (CWS). California’s CWS system was established with the goal of protecting youth from abuse and neglect and is designed to provide safety, health, and overall well-being of children. When a child is identified as being at risk of abuse or neglect, reports can be made to either law enforcement or a county child welfare agency. Often, these reports are submitted by mandated reporters who are legally required to report suspicion of child abuse or neglect due to their profession, such as a teacher or healthcare provider.

California's CWS programs are administered by the 58 individual counties with each county organizing and operating its own program of child protection based on local needs while adhering to state and federal regulations. When a child welfare case is open, counties are the primary governmental entity interacting with children and families when addressing issues of child abuse and neglect, and are responsible, either directly or through providers, for obtaining or providing the interventions and relevant services to protect children and assist families with issues related to child abuse and neglect.

CDSS secures federal funding to support CWS programs, provides statewide best practices training for social workers, and conducts program regulatory oversight and administration, and is responsible for the development of policy while also providing direct services such as adoption placements.

As of October 1, 2024, there are 40,165 youth between birth and 20 years of age in foster care.

Disaster Services. CDSS currently supports counties’ mass care and shelter programs, as well as state and federal grant recovery programs. CDSS also supports local agencies to provide temporary shelter for those experiencing a disaster or emergency. The shelters are typically opened and operated by the American Red Cross and have assistance from local or county employees. During emergencies or disasters, Regional Emergency Operations Centers are used as a coordination hub and are managed by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES). California has three Regional Emergency Operation Centers which are located in the Inland, Coastal, and Southern regions of the state. CDSS staff is permitted to deploy to one or all of the three Regional Emergency Operations Centers at the request of CalOES in situations involving mass care, sheltering, or other human services functions that fall under CDSS’ expertise.

CalOES serves as California’s overall coordinator and agent to secure federal government resources through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and responds, directs, and coordinates state and federal resources across the state during all major emergencies and disasters. CalOES also supports local jurisdictions and communities through planning and preparedness activities, training, and facilitating the immediate response to an emergency through the longer‐term recovery phase. Once activated by CalOES, CDSS staff assist in the mass care and shelter function by: tracking shelter status and feeding services; coordinating state resources; and supporting the American Red Cross in sheltering operations.

CDSS is also authorized to provide grant assistance through the Individuals and Households Program (IHP) and the State Supplemental Grant Program (SSGP).The IHP is a joint federal and state program that can provide assistance following a disaster declared by the President. Under IHP, FEMA is authorized to provide awards in the form of rent, home repair or replacement, transportation repair or replacement, funeral expenses, personal property, medical, dental or other miscellaneous expenses. According to CDSS, FEMA disaster assistance covers basic needs, but does not normally compensate disaster victims for their entire loss. The SSGP is 100% state-funded and is authorized to provide grant funds to assist people who have suffered damage in a disaster area declared by the President when the federal assistance to IHP is implemented. The grants are designed to assist with any eligible items not already addressed by the IHP and in order to be eligible for SSGP, recipients are required to have first applied to FEMA and maximized the IHP award.

This bill would add to the array of grants and programs that direct resources to vulnerable populations affected by disasters by creating a program to specifically support the needs of foster youth and their caregivers during a disaster. The Program will allow counties to apply for funds to meet the housing, clothing, transportation, and other tangible needs of foster youth and their caregivers that occur within 180 days of a local emergency proclamation by a local government or a state of emergency proclamation by the Governor.

Recent Disasters. With an increase in climate-change related events, communities throughout California are impacted. The list of recent Governor-proclaimed disasters in California include severe winter storms, drought, floods, earthquakes, and fires. The impact of the recent fires in Los Angeles in January of 2025 is still being felt, as the affected communities try to rebuild. The fires burned over 57,000 acres of land and destroyed more than 18,000 homes and structures. According to CDSS’ Disaster Planning and Response Unit, they have daily communication and report outs with Los Angeles County on the impacted youth from the wildfire incidents.

According to CDSS, Los Angeles County had 442 child welfare/probation-supervised youth and 401 Los Angeles County employees that were initially impacted by these wildfire incidents. Additionally, 20 children are confirmed as impacted due to 13 homes/facilities burning down.

The Camp Fire, which in 2018 burned over 150,000 acres and destroyed more than 18,000 structures in Butte County, forced thousands of families to evacuate their homes. As a result, displaced people were forced to stay in shelters, hotels or tents, and parking lots, with many having no access to clothing or food beyond what they brought with them.

According to Youth for Change and Youth and Family Programs, the Camp Fire displaced about 30 of the county’s 500 foster youth. Regulations require resource families to seek approval from their social worker should they live more than two hours from their agency or cohabitate with other people, even in an emergency, which limits many families’ ability to immediately move out of the area where there may be more resources. Due to these limitations, having access to immediate assistance during a disaster becomes an acute necessity for resource families who house foster youth.

Author’s Statement: According to the Author, [This bill] would establish a statewide Child Welfare Disaster Response Fund to ensure resources are immediately available to meet the urgent needs of children and youth in foster care and their caregivers in the aftermath of a natural disaster such as a fire, flood or earthquake. While the state is legally responsible for meeting the needs of children and youth in foster care, they rarely receive the funding needed to cover extra, unexpected costs that occur in the wake of a natural disaster, including the replacement of lost clothing, food and essential belongings, securing temporary housing, or travel to and from a temporary home to appointments and school. While everyone struggles in the face of natural disasters, children and youth in foster care and their caregivers deal with a unique set of challenges after an emergency and the state should ensure resources are immediately available post-disaster to reduce additional trauma and minimize further disruptions.”

Equity Implications: Youth in foster care have not only experienced the trauma of abuse or neglect, but trauma related to removal from their homes and communities. Early childhood trauma, as well as the trauma of system-involvement often lead to inequities and poor educational and employment outcomes. Natural disasters can compound their trauma and further de-stabilize families who may have lost their housing as result. Losing housing is a traumatic event for any family to experience and can be particularly acute for when foster families are evacuated or displaced. There are challenges in maintaining stability and minimizing further disruptions for foster youth. This bill attempts to mitigate these challenges, by ensuring foster youth and their caregivers will have access to dedicated resources to help them survive and rebuild in the event they are impacted by a natural disaster.

RELATED AND PRIOR LEGISLATION:

SB 589 (Alvarado-Gil) of 2023, was identical to this bill. SB 589 was held on the Assembly Appropriations Committee suspense file.

AB 1034 (Friedman) of 2019, would have required every facility of each of the following to have an emergency and disaster plans: community care facilities that serve children or nonminor dependents, resource families, certified or licensed foster family homes, small family homes, community care facilities that serve adults, residential care facilities for persons with chronic life-threatening illness, and child care centers. AB 1034 would have also required the Community Care Licensing Division within CDSS to confirm during annual licensing visits that a plan is on file at the facility and includes the required content. AB 1034 was held on the Assembly Appropriations Committee suspense file.

AB 3098 (Friedman), Chapter 348, Statutes of 2018, required residential care facilities for the elderly (RCFEs) to have detailed emergency and disaster plans and to provide training on the plan to staff.

AB 749 (Wolk), Chapter 477, Statutes of 2008, required RCFEs licensed by CDSS to have a specified emergency plan available to residents and local emergency responders and, further, required CDSS to confirm during licensing visits that the plan is on file at the facility.

AB 2101 (Wolk) of 2008, would have required RCFEs to develop emergency plans and makes specific requirements for providing notices to residents and potential residents in the event of rate increases. AB 2101 was held on the Assembly Appropriations Committee suspense file.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

Children Now (Sponsor)

Alliance for Children's Rights

Aspiranet

California Alliance of Child and Family Services

California Behavioral Health Association

California Family Resource Association

Center for Public Interest Law/children's Advocacy Institute/university of San Diego

Child Abuse Prevention Center and Its Affiliates Safe Kids California, Prevent Child Abuse California and The California Family Resource Association

Children's Law Center of California

County Welfare Directors Association of California

First Place for Youth

Good River Partners

John Burton Advocates for Youth

Public Counsel

Safe & Sound

Youth Law Center

Opposition

None on file.

Analysis Prepared by: Jessica Langtry / HUM. S. / (916) 319-2089