Public social services: foster care benefits.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify what happens if a county fails to follow the new requirements or how this change will affect children who are in foster care temporarily.

Foster Care Benefits Review and Notification

AB-680 requires counties to review foster care benefits eligibility annually, notify caregivers of changes in benefits, and ensure children receive appropriate benefits under different programs.

What This Bill Does

• Requires counties to check if a child or young adult is still eligible for foster care benefits each year and when new information comes in.
• If a child or young adult loses benefits from one program but qualifies for another, the county must make sure they get benefits under the new program.
• The county has to tell caregivers about any changes in benefits within 30 days of learning about them.

Who It Names or Affects

• Children and young adults in foster care
• Caregivers of children in foster care
• Counties responsible for providing foster care benefits

Terms To Know

Foster Care Benefits

Money or support given to people who take care of children who can't live with their parents.

Nonminor Dependent

A young adult, usually up to age 21, who is still receiving foster care benefits and services.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify what happens if a county fails to follow the new requirements.
• The bill does not provide details on how counties will be funded for these additional duties.

Official Summary Text

AB 680, as introduced, Ahrens.
Public social services: foster care benefits.
Existing law establishes various programs to provide foster care benefits, including, among others, the Aid to Families with Dependent Children—Foster Care (AFDC-FC) program, under which counties provide payments to foster care providers on behalf of qualified children in foster care and to nonminor dependents. Existing law requires the county to review the child’s or nonminor dependent’s payment amount annually, including an examination of any circumstances of a foster child or nonminor dependent that are subject to change and could affect the child’s or nonminor dependent’s potential eligibility or payment amount.
This bill would require that review to include a review of a child’s or nonminor dependent’s eligibility for foster care benefits, and would require that review to also be conducted each time the county receives specified information.
The bill would require, if the county determines pursuant to that review that a child or nonminor dependent is no longer eligible for foster care benefits under the program from which they are currently receiving foster care benefits, but is eligible for foster care benefits under another program, the county to ensure that the child or nonminor dependent receives the foster care benefits to which they are entitled under the new program, and to provide a notice of action that includes specified information to the caregiver of the child or to the nonminor dependent. The bill would also require the county to provide a notice of action that includes specified information to the caregiver of the child or to the nonminor dependent if the county determines pursuant to that review that the child or nonminor dependent is no longer eligible for foster care benefits under any program.
This bill would require a county to make an initial determination of the amount of foster
care benefits to which a child is entitled within 30 days of the juvenile court’s initial order to detain the child.
By imposing new duties on counties, this 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

Download Bill PDF