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AB-898 • 2026

The Family Urgent Response System.

The Family Urgent Response System.

Children
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Bryan
Last action
Official status
Chaptered
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date is not provided in the official metadata or text excerpts; only the chaptering date (2025-10-13) is known.

The Family Urgent Response System

This law makes a statewide hotline the main way for families to get help during crises and requires counties to track calls, update their plans every two years with specific details, and prioritize urgent requests.

What This Bill Does

  • Makes the statewide hotline the primary entry point for the Family Urgent Response System.
  • Requires the state department to collect data on all calls received by county mobile response systems, including those from the hotline and portal.
  • Mandates that counties update their coordinated plans every two years and include a submission date and contact person.
  • Allows county teams not currently handling hotline calls to use staff for local needs, such as providing ongoing support.
  • Requires county teams using local staff to prioritize urgent calls from the statewide hotline.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The State Department of Social Services
  • County child welfare, probation, and behavioral health agencies
  • Caregivers, current foster children, and former foster youth

Terms To Know

Family Urgent Response System
A system that uses a hotline to help caregivers or foster youth during moments of instability.
Mobile response team
Staff members who travel in person to provide support services and stabilize situations for children, youth, or caregivers.
Biennial basis
Something that happens once every two years.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The official text does not list a specific effective date for these changes.
  • Reimbursement to counties depends on whether the Commission on State Mandates determines there are state-mandated costs.
  • The law describes requirements but does not detail specific funding amounts or staffing numbers.

Bill History

  1. California Legislative Information

    Chaptered

Official Summary Text

The Family Urgent Response System.