Juveniles: nonminor dependents: out-of-state placement: visitation.

Removed subsection (i) of Section 16516.7, which required the State Department of Social Services to convene stakeholders no later than July 1, 2027 (contingent on appropriation) to develop best practices in casework for supporting healthy adult development of nonminor dependents, and to use that input to develop and deliver training for county placing agencies.

The legislative counsel's digest was updated to remove the paragraph describing the now-deleted stakeholder convening and training requirement.

In subdivision (f), the phrase 'This subdivision section' was corrected to 'This section,' removing redundant language in the out-of-state residential facility exemption.

Page numbers were renumbered from 97 to 96 throughout the bill, and line breaks were adjusted in the summary paragraph. These are formatting changes with no policy impact.

The entire amendment to Section 301 of the Welfare and Institutions Code was deleted. That provision made technical, nonsubstantive changes to the rules governing when a social worker may undertake a voluntary program of supervision instead of filing a petition in juvenile court.

The fiscal committee determination and state-mandated local program designation are now clearly marked 'yes' (previously shown with strikethrough markup transitioning from 'no' to 'yes'), confirming the bill imposes reimbursable state mandates on local agencies for the new quarterly in-person visit requirement.

In Section 16516.7(f), the text was changed from 'This subdivision shall not apply' to 'This subdivision section shall not apply,' which appears to be a drafting error introducing redundancy.

New Section 16516.7 added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, creating a framework for virtual visits with nonminor dependents placed out of state. The original bill only made technical pronoun and wording changes to Section 301.

Applies to nonminor dependents (youth aged 18-21) who are placed out of state by a county welfare or probation department. Excludes nonminor dependents placed in out-of-state residential facilities under Part 5 of Division 12 of the Family Code.

Virtual visits require informed consent from the nonminor dependent, documented in the case plan. Visits must be real-time audiovisual interactions with video capability for both parties. If a technical issue prevents video on the day of the visit, a second attempt is required within two business days.

A minimum of one in-person visit per quarter is required. Nonminor dependents may request an in-person visit at least five business days before a scheduled virtual visit, and the social worker or probation officer must accommodate it. The caseworker may also shift a virtual visit to in-person if they have safety or well-being concerns.

Virtual visits must include a private discussion between the nonminor dependent and the caseworker that is not conducted in the presence of a foster parent or caregiver. Contents of that discussion are confidential except when there is danger to self or others, disclosure is necessary to meet the youth's needs, or the youth consents.

By July 1, 2027, the State Department of Social Services must convene a working group to develop guidelines for county placing agencies and attorneys on engaging nonminor dependents placed out of state. Guidelines must cover safety assessment during virtual visits, confidential communication, meaningful consent, engagement with supportive adults, and a feedback process.

By July 1, 2027 (contingent on appropriation), the department must convene stakeholders to develop best practices in casework for nonminor dependents and use that input to develop training for county placing agencies. The bill is now classified as a state-mandated local program with reimbursement provisions.

Section 301 changes remain technical and nonsubstantive: gender-neutral pronoun updates (he or she to they), and changing 'probably soon' to 'likely soon.' These were present in the original bill and are unchanged in substance.