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SB-534 • 2026

Dependent children: information related to family.

Dependent children: information related to family.

Children Education Energy Housing Labor Taxes
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Padilla
Last action
2026-04-23
Official status
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E.D., G., & H.I.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on how many minors and nonminors will choose to receive this information or what happens if the county welfare department cannot find family members' last known whereabouts.

Dependent Children: Family Information

The bill requires county welfare departments to provide dependent minors and nonminors with information about their parents' and siblings' last known whereabouts, including contact details, unless the minor or nonminor chooses not to receive it.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires county welfare departments to give dependent minors and nonminors information about where their parents and siblings are and how to contact them if they want this information.
  • Allows minors and nonminors to choose whether they want to know the whereabouts of their family members.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Dependent minors and nonminors who are under the care of the juvenile court system.
  • County welfare departments that provide services to dependent children.

Terms To Know

Nonminor
A person who is over 18 years old but still receives support from the county welfare department because they were once a dependent child of the court.
Juvenile Court
The part of the legal system that deals with children and teenagers who are accused of breaking laws or need help due to abuse, neglect, or other issues.

Limits and Unknowns

  • It is not clear how many minors and nonminors will choose to receive this information.
  • The bill does not specify what happens if the county welfare department cannot find the last known whereabouts of a minor's family members.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-23 California Legislative Information

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E.D., G., & H.I.

  2. 2025-05-29 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on E.D., G., & H.I.

  3. 2025-05-15 California Legislative Information

    In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

  4. 2025-05-15 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 34. Noes 0. Page 1090.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  5. 2025-05-08 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended. Ordered to consent calendar.

  6. 2025-05-07 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass as amended. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 1038.) (May 7).

  7. 2025-04-07 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. (Ayes 10. Noes 0. Page 680.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.

  8. 2025-04-04 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing May 7 in L. GOV. pending receipt.

  9. 2025-03-18 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 7.

  10. 2025-03-05 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on B. P. & E.D. and L. GOV.

  11. 2025-02-21 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.

  12. 2025-02-20 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 534, as amended, Padilla.
Green Empowerment Zone for the Salton Sea and Southeastern Desert Valleys.
Dependent children: information related to family.
Existing law establishes the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which is permitted to adjudge children who have suffered abuse or neglect to be dependents of the court under certain circumstances, and prescribes various hearings and other procedures for these purposes. Existing law requires the county welfare department to submit reports at the first regularly scheduled review hearing after a dependent minor has attained 16 years of age and at the last regularly scheduled review hearing before a dependent minor attains 18 years of age, and at every regularly scheduled review hearing thereafter, verifying that the county welfare department has provided certain information, documents, and services to the minor or nonminor.
Existing law prohibits the court from
terminating dependency jurisdiction over a nonminor dependent until the county welfare department has submitted a report verifying specified information, documents, and services have been provided to the nonminor, including the nonminor’s family history and placement history.
This bill would additionally require the above-described assistance include providing the minor or nonminor the last known whereabouts of their parents and siblings and the last known contact information for them. The bill would require that the minor or nonminor have the option to decline this information.
By increasing the duties of county welfare departments, 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.
Existing law establishes procedures for the formation of infrastructure financing districts, enhanced infrastructure financing districts, infrastructure and revitalization financing districts, community revitalization and investment authorities, and public-private partnerships, as specified, to undertake various economic development projects, including financing public facilities and infrastructure, affordable housing, and economic revitalization. Existing law, until January 1, 2028, authorizes the establishment of a Green Empowerment Zone for the Northern Waterfront area of the County of Contra Costa for the purpose of building upon the comparative advantage provided by the regional concentration of highly skilled energy industry workers by prioritizing access to tax incentives, grants, and loan programs, among other incentives.
This bill,
until January 1, 2035, would authorize establishment of a Green Empowerment Zone for the Salton Sea and Southeastern Desert Valleys (empowerment zone). The bill would authorize the empowerment zone to be composed of specified land and communities within the Imperial, Eastern Coachella, and Palo Verde Valleys, upon adoption of a resolution by the Imperial County Board of Supervisors, and would provide for the empowerment zone to be governed by a board of directors, as specified. The bill would task the empowerment zone with various duties, including, among other things, identification of projects and programs that will best utilize public dollars, distribute benefits to disinvested communities, and most quickly improve the economic vitality of California’s southeastern desert valleys, as specified, in a coordinated effort to support the development and equitable transition to a clean energy economy. The bill would require the board of directors, beginning on January 1, 2027, to submit an annual progress
report to the Legislature and the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, as specified. The bill would require the empowerment zone, commencing on January 1, 2027, as specified, to post the above-described report on its internet website and to submit a letter to the Legislature informing the Legislature that the report has been posted.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Southeastern Desert Valleys.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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