California Fostering Connections to Success Act.

Existing law, the California Fostering Connections to Success Act, revises and expands the scope of various programs relating to the provision of cash assistance and other services to and for the benefit of certain foster and adopted children, and other children who have been placed in out-of-home care, including children who receive Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC) , Adoption Assistance Program, California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) , and Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment (Kin-GAP) benefits. Among other provisions, the act extends specified foster care benefits to nonminor dependents up to 21 years of age, if specified conditions are met. Existing law defines a nonminor dependent for these purposes as a foster child who is a current dependent child or ward of the juvenile court, or who is a nonminor under the transition jurisdiction of the juvenile court pursuant to a voluntary reentry agreement, and in accordance with a transitional independent living case plan who has attained 18 years of age while under an order of foster care placement by the juvenile court and is not older than 21 years of age. Existing law authorizes the juvenile court to retain jurisdiction over any person who is found to be a ward of the juvenile court until the ward attains 21 years of age. On March 4, 2020, the Governor proclaimed a state of emergency to exist in California as a result of the threat of COVID-19. Executive Order No. N-53-20, signed by the Governor on April 17, 2020, and as extended by Executive Order No. N-69-20, signed by the Governor on June 15, 2020, authorizes temporary waivers of certain foster youth program requirements to ensure continuity of care in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under this bill, a nonminor dependent who turned 21 years of age between March 4, 2020, and June 30, 2021, inclusive, would be eligible to continue receiving extended foster care support through June 30, 2021. The bill would, for a state of emergency declared by the Governor on or after January 1, 2021, as specified, require that extended foster care support continue for 6 months from the date of the declaration for a nonminor dependent who turns 21 years of age while the state of emergency is in effect. The bill would also, for any state of emergency declared by the Governor on or after January 1, 2021, require a nonminor dependent who is unable to meet certain participation conditions or to qualify for an exception, as specified, to continue to receive foster care support for 6 months from the date of the declaration. The bill would also, for a ward or nonminor dependent, that meets the above criteria for expanded eligibility to receive foster care support, allow the court to retain jurisdiction over that ward or nonminor dependent, as specified. The bill would authorize the Governor to extend these provisions under specified circumstances. By expanding the application of the above county-administered programs and imposing additional duties on county employees, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law continuously appropriates moneys from the General Fund to defray a portion of county costs under the CalWORKs program. This bill would provide that the continuous appropriation would not be made for purposes of implementing the bill. 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.