Tribally Approved Homes Compensation Program.

Existing federal law, the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA) , governs the proceedings for determining the placement of an Indian child when that child is removed from the custody of the child's parent or guardian. Existing law specifies that the state is committed to protecting the essential tribal relations and best interest of an Indian child by promoting practices in accordance with ICWA. Existing law authorizes a federally recognized tribe to approve a home for the purpose of foster or adoptive placement of an Indian child pursuant to ICWA and authorizes a tribe to designate a tribal organization to do the same. This bill would establish the Tribally Approved Homes Compensation Program to provide funding to eligible tribes and tribal organizations in California to assist in funding the costs associated with recruiting and approving homes for the purpose of foster or adoptive placement of an Indian child pursuant to ICWA, as described above. The bill would, subject to an appropriation for this purpose in the annual Budget Act, require the State Department of Social Services to provide annual allocations of $75,000 to eligible tribes and tribal organizations in each fiscal year and would require a tribe or tribal organization to submit to the department a letter of intent for funding, as specified, in order to be eligible for the funding allocation. The bill would require a tribe or tribal organization that receives funding pursuant to the program to submit a progress report to the department following the close of the fiscal year in which an allocation was received that includes details about how many homes were approved, recruitment efforts, and challenges experienced during the fiscal year that was funded and would require the department to annually compile those progress reports and submit a report to the Legislature, as specified.