Sexually exploited and trafficked minors.

Existing law provides that a child may come within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court and become a dependent child of the court in certain cases, including when the child is abused, a parent or guardian fails to adequately supervise or protect the child, as specified, or a parent or guardian fails to provide the child with adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical treatment. This bill would provide, until January 1, 2017, that a minor may come within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court and become a dependent child of the court if the minor is a victim of human trafficking or sexual exploitation, or received food or shelter in exchange for, or was paid to perform, sexual acts, and the parent or guardian failed or was unable to protect the child. This bill would enact the State Plan to Serve and Protect Sexually Exploited and Trafficked Minors, and would require the California Health and Human Services Agency to, no later than January 30, 2014, convene an interagency workgroup, as prescribed, to develop the plan and require the workgroup to submit the plan to the Legislature, Judicial Council, and Governor, no later than January 30, 2015. Existing law establishes the California Child Welfare Council, which serves as the advisory body responsible for improving the collaboration and processes of the multiple agencies and courts that serve children and youth in the child welfare and foster care systems. This bill would require the California Child Welfare Council to provide recommendations and updates to the State Plan to Serve and Protect Sexually Exploited and Trafficked Minors. Existing law, the California Community Care Facilities Act, requires the State Department of Social Services to license and regulate community care facilities, including foster family agencies and other facilities that provide foster care services for children. Existing law requires the department to develop, and an administrator of a group home facility to complete, a certification program that includes training in various areas. Existing law requires a foster family agency to provide, and a licensed foster parent to complete, prescribed preplacement training and additional annual training. Existing law requires a community college district with a foster care education program to make orientation and training available to a relative or nonrelative extended family member caregiver of a foster child, as specified. The bill would require the training for an administrator of a group home facility, licensed foster parent, and relative or nonrelative extended family member caregiver to include instruction on cultural competency and sensitivity relating to, and best practices for, providing adequate care to a sexually exploited and trafficked minor in out-of-home care. By expanding the duties of community college districts, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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.