Foster care: specialized foster care homes.

Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to establish specialized foster care homes for children with special health care needs, but generally prohibits more than 2 foster children from residing in a specialized foster care home, except as specified. Existing law permits a licensed small family home, except as specified, to accept more than 2 foster children under certain conditions, including that, if 4 or more foster children are physically present in the facility, on-call assistance is available at all times to respond in case of an emergency and that the home is sufficient in size to accommodate the needs of all children in the home. The bill would provide that the conditions described above that apply if 4 or more foster children are physically present, would apply if a licensed small family home exceeds the 2 child limit.