Foster children: rights.

(1) Existing law provides that it is the policy of the state that all minors and nonminors in foster care have specified rights, including, among others, the right to be free of the administration of medication or chemical substances, unless authorized by a physician. This bill would require the State Department of Social Services to convene a working group regarding the specified rights of all minors and nonminors in foster care in order to educate them, foster care providers, and others, and would require the working group to be composed of, among others, the County Welfare Directors Association of California and foster children advocacy groups. The bill would provide the responsibilities of the working group, including making recommendations to the Legislature, by January 1, 2018, for revising the rights, and developing standardized information regarding the revised rights, by July 1, 2018, as specified. (2) Existing law requires, at least once every 6 months, at the time of a regularly scheduled placement agency contact with the foster child, a foster child's social worker or probation officer to inform the child of the above-mentioned rights. This bill would additionally require the social worker or probation officer to inform the care provider and child and family team, if applicable, of those rights, provide a written copy of the rights to the child, and document in the case plan that he or she has informed the child of, and has provided the child with a written copy of, his or her rights. By imposing duties on local officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) This bill would incorporate additional changes in Section 16501.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code proposed by AB 1849 and AB 1997, that would become operative only if this bill and either or both of those bills are chaptered and become effective on or before January 1, 2017, and this bill is chaptered last. (4) 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.