CaliforniaAB 8962025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Child welfare services.

Sponsored By: Sade Elhawary (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.

Faster emergency placement assessments

For emergency placements, the county finishes the home and permanency assessments and a written report within 120 days. If delayed for good cause, the county records why and sets a new due date. Counties report each quarter how many cases missed 120 days and the reasons.

More notice and planning for foster moves

Before a county moves a child, the worker must try to keep the placement with a plan made with the caregiver, child, and team. If a move still must happen, the county serves 14 days’ written notice to the parent, caregiver, the child’s lawyer, and the child (if 10 or older). Moves between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. are banned unless everyone agrees or there is danger. Each county also adopts a transition policy. It must get input from youth and caregivers, and cover school, medical, mental health, cultural, and tribal needs.

One statewide approval replaces old licenses

The state runs one resource family approval that replaces separate foster, relative, guardian, and adoptive home processes. When a county starts the new system, it stops taking new applications under the old rules. Approved resource families are generally exempt from the older licensure and approval requirements.

Approved families can foster, adopt, and get payments

If your family is approved and meets home and permanency standards, you can care for children and also be approved for adoption or guardianship. A child placed with an approved resource family is eligible for the basic foster payment at the child’s assessed level of care. Counties can also grant approvals tied to a specific child, such as for relatives.

Stronger rights for children in foster care

The law lists clear rights for children and nonminor dependents in foster care. They have the right to a safe, abuse‑free home, privacy, and needed medical and mental health care, including gender‑affirming care where allowed by law. They get school stability, fast enrollment, and quick transfer of records and credits. Youth help plan their case; at age 10 they can review their plan, at age 12 some health consents apply, and they can get their records for free until age 26.

Caregivers face training, checks, and fees

Applicants and all adults in the home must pass fingerprint‑based state and federal checks and a child‑abuse index check. Some crimes bar approval unless an exemption is granted. You must finish at least 12 hours of pre‑approval training, then at least 8 hours each year. Get CPR and first aid certified within 90 days. If you care for a child age 10 or older, complete training on child exploitation within 12 months. The Department of Justice can charge fees for required background checks.

Payments held until full approval

If a child is placed with a family that is still an applicant, AFDC‑FC foster care payments are not available until the family is fully approved. This applies when only the home assessment is done and the permanency assessment is still pending, except when there is a compelling reason and the 120‑day timeline applies.

Program rollout tied to federal funds

The state runs the resource family approval program only while federal Title IV‑E funds cover placement costs. If those funds are not available, the state or counties may delay or limit the program.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Sade Elhawary
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

Robert Rivas
Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 228 • No: 0

House vote • 9/12/2025

Item 127 — Assembly AFLOOR

Yes: 79 • No: 0

Senate vote • 9/11/2025

Item 198 — Senate SFLOOR

Yes: 40 • No: 0

legislature vote • 8/29/2025

Vote in CS61

Yes: 7 • No: 0

legislature vote • 6/30/2025

Vote in CS61

Yes: 6 • No: 0

legislature vote • 6/16/2025

Vote in CS74

Yes: 5 • No: 0

House vote • 5/15/2025

Item 168 — Assembly AFLOOR

Yes: 69 • No: 0

legislature vote • 5/7/2025

Vote in CX25

Yes: 15 • No: 0

legislature vote • 4/29/2025

Vote in CX11