SB-1345 • 2026

Foster children: rights of foster youth.

Children

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Wahab
Last action: 2026-04-24
Official status: Set for hearing May 4.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide details on enforcement mechanisms or penalties for violations, leaving these aspects unclear.

Foster Children's Rights

This law adds rights for foster youth to ensure their personal belongings are transported safely during placement changes and allows them reasonable access to these items.

What This Bill Does

Adds a right for foster youth to have their personal belongings transported in suitcases, duffel bags, backpacks, or moving boxes when they change placements or move.
Ensures foster youth can maintain reasonable access to and use of their personal belongings like clothing and other possessions.

Who It Names or Affects

Foster youth who are minors or nonminors in the care system.
Child welfare agencies responsible for transporting and managing belongings of foster youth.

Terms To Know

foster youth: Children and young adults under state care due to family issues, who live with foster families or in group homes.
child welfare services: Public social services aimed at protecting children's well-being and keeping families together when possible.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how often youth must receive copies of their rights.
It is unclear what specific actions child welfare agencies will take to enforce these new rights.
There are no details on penalties for violating the foster youth's rights as outlined in this bill.

Bill History

2026-04-24 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 4.
2026-04-21 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 4. Noes 0.) (April 20). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-09 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HUMAN S.
2026-04-09 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 20.
2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Coms. on HUMAN S. and APPR.
2026-03-23 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
2026-03-04 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on RLS.
2026-02-23 California Legislative Information
Read first time.
2026-02-23 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.
2026-02-20 California Legislative Information
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 1345, as amended, Wahab.
Foster children: rights of foster youth.
Existing law generally provides for the placement of foster youth in various settings and governs the provision of child welfare services, which is defined to mean public social services that are directed toward the accomplishment of specified purposes, including protecting and promoting the welfare of all children, preventing the unnecessary separation of children from their families, and restoring to their families children who have been removed. Existing law provides that it is the policy of the state that all minors and nonminors in foster care have specified rights, including, among others, the right to have storage space for private use, the right to be free from unreasonable searches of personal belongings, the right to be informed of these rights in an age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate manner, and the right to receive a copy of these rights, at specified
intervals.
Under this bill, the foster youth would have an additional right to have their personal belongings transported during placement changes and other moves in a manner preserving the youth’s property and dignity, including the use of suitcases, duffel bags, backpacks, and moving boxes rather than trash bags or other inappropriate receptacles.
The bill would also include the right to maintain reasonable access to and use of personal belongings, clothing, and personal items.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF