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AB-319 • 2026

Foster youth: trauma-informed services.

Foster youth: trauma-informed services.

Children Education
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Jackson
Last action
2026-02-02
Official status
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details on how counties will be supported financially or penalized for non-compliance, leaving these points uncertain.

Foster Youth Trauma-Informed Services

AB-319 requires counties to develop and submit plans in collaboration with an interagency leadership team, describing how they will provide trauma-informed services for foster youth.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires each county to create a plan that helps children in foster care who have experienced severe trauma.
  • The plan must be submitted by January 1, 2027, and updated every two years.
  • Counties need to work with an interagency leadership team when making these plans.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Children and youth in foster care who have experienced severe trauma
  • County child welfare agencies and probation departments

Terms To Know

Trauma-informed services
Services that understand and respond to the effects of trauma on children's lives.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much money counties will receive to implement these plans.
  • It is unclear what specific actions the state will take if a county fails to submit or follow its plan.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. 2026-01-31 California Legislative Information

    Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.

  3. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Held under submission.

  4. 2025-04-30 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.

  5. 2025-03-20 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  6. 2025-03-19 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended.

  7. 2025-03-18 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (March 11).

  8. 2025-02-10 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on HUM. S.

  9. 2025-01-27 California Legislative Information

    Read first time.

  10. 2025-01-25 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee February 24.

  11. 2025-01-24 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 319, as amended, Jackson.
Foster youth:
trauma-informed, therapeutic continuum of care.
trauma-informed services.
Existing law requires each county to develop and implement a memorandum of understanding (MOU) setting forth the roles and responsibilities of agencies and other entities that serve children and youth in foster care who have experienced severe trauma. Existing law requires
the Secretary
that the MOU include provisions addressing, among other things, the establishment and operation of an interagency leadership team.
Existing law requires the Secretary
of California Health and
Human Services and the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish a joint interagency resolution team consisting of representatives from specified state departments to support implementation of those MOUs, among other functions.
Existing law requires the
resolution
team to develop and submit certain recommendations to the Legislature on various items, including a statewide plan for any additional development needed for a trauma-informed, therapeutic continuum of care to support youth in-state in the least restrictive setting. Existing law requires the team to track and report deidentified information of children and nonminor dependents in foster care who have been assisted to preserve, or secure new, intensive therapeutic options.
This bill would require a
county to develop and submit plans to the State Department of Social Services describing the development needed for a trauma-informed, therapeutic continuum of care to support youth in-state in the least restrictive setting.
county, in collaboration with the leadership team, inclusive of tribes, to submit plans to the resolution team describing how the county intends to ensure that coordinated, timely, and trauma-informed services are provided to children and youth in foster care who have experienced severe trauma.
The bill would require the county to submit the first plan by January 1, 2027, and to submit updated plans every 2 years thereafter.
The bill would require the county to take into consideration
the above-described recommendations of the joint interagency resolution team on the statewide plan, as specified. The bill would also require the county to outline in its plans how the county will work to increase the number of available slots in short-term residential therapeutic programs
within the county.
certain information regarding the placement and service options available to county child welfare agencies and county probation departments for children and youth in foster care who have experienced severe trauma, as specified.
By creating new duties for counties relating to those plans, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
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.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Download Bill PDF