Foster youth: nonminor dependents.

Existing law provides aid and services to children placed in out-of-home care through various public assistance programs, including Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC) , Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program (Kin-GAP) , and the Adoption Assistance Program. Existing law provides that a minor who has been abused or neglected, or who has violated a law or ordinance, as specified, is within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court as a dependent child or a ward, respectively. Existing law also establishes the court's transition jurisdiction over certain minors and nonminors, as specified. Existing law authorizes a nonminor who has not attained 21 years of age to petition the juvenile court for a hearing to determine whether to assume dependency jurisdiction over the nonminor if he or she received public assistance after attaining 18 years of age, as specified, and the nonminor's former guardian or guardians or adoptive parent or parents died after he or she attained 18 years of age, but before he or she attains 21 years of age. Prior to the hearing, existing law requires the court to order the county child welfare or probation department to prepare a report for the court that addresses the nonminor's educational or vocational plans, as specified, and recommendations for his or her placement. Existing law requires the placement and care of a former dependent or ward to be under the responsibility of specified local agencies, including either the county welfare services department or probation department, and requires the agency made responsible for the nonminor's placement and care to prepare a new transitional independent living case plan, as specified. This bill would additionally authorize a nonminor who has not attained 21 years of age to petition the court, as described above, if the nonminor received public assistance after attaining 18 years of age, as specified, and his or her former guardian or guardians or adoptive parent or parents no longer provide ongoing support to, and no longer receive payment on behalf of, the nonminor, and the court determines that it is in the nonminor's best interest for the court to assume dependency jurisdiction. By expanding the number of persons who are eligible to petition the juvenile court to assume dependency jurisdiction, the bill would increase the duties of social workers and probation officers, thereby creating a state-mandated local program. This bill would make technical and conforming changes to a related provision. 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.