Adoption: fingerprinting of adoptive parents.

Existing law requires a criminal records check and fingerprint clearance of applicants for a license, special permit, or certificate of approval for a foster family home or certified family home. Existing law also requires the State Department of Social Services or licensed adoption agency to require each person filing an application for adoption to be fingerprinted and to secure the person's full criminal record, if any. This bill would require the State Department of Social Services, the county social services department, or a licensed adoption agency or foster family agency to require each foster-to-adoption applicant, as defined, to submit fingerprint images and related information to the Department of Justice for purposes of conducting a criminal records check that shall apply to both an approval for adoption and licensure as a foster family home or certified family home of a licensed foster family agency, as provided. By imposing these additional requirements on county social services departments, this bill would impose a state- mandated local program. The bill would require the Department of Justice to process certain information and disseminate a response and determination, as specified, in connection with the submission of fingerprint images, and would permit the department to charge a fee to cover the cost of processing a request for subsequent arrest information. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.