Recently the Assembly Human Services Committee, chaired by
Assembly member Eloise Gómez Reyes, convened an
informational hearing on the Assembly Bill 1299 (Chapter 603,
Statutes of 2016) implementation efforts. Over the past four
years, the Administration, Legislature, and stakeholders have
enacted legislation and program changes to improve foster youth
outcomes, such as, AB 403 (Chapter 773, Statutes of 2015 ) the
Continuum of Care Reform (CCR) and AB 1299 “Presumptive
Transfer.”
The AB 1299 provision was signed in 2016, after a nearly two-year
legislative process with the Department of Health Care Services
(DHCS), the Department of Social Services (DSS), the California
Alliance for Child and Family Services, county affiliates, and
other stakeholders, to ensure all foster children receive timely
behavioral health services when placed in a county other than the
one in which they lived.
The committee heard from panelist who explained some of the
continued AB 1299 implementation challenges. Some challenges
discussed were the complexity of contracts and forms across
county jurisdictions, communication across counties, agencies and
providers, the lack of providers, and fiscal
complexities. Ultimately, the panelist emphasized the need
for child specific services, and the willingness to continue
working for the best outcomes for foster youth. As committee
members assured stakeholders of their interest in providing
continued support to alleviate AB 1299 implementation concerns,
counties stand ready to actively engage in the process.
*For recent AB 1299 implementation materials please view,
Fostering Cooperation for
Out-of-County Kids – Implementing AB 1299, presented
by CSAC, County Welfare Directors Association of
California, County Behavioral Health Directors Association, and
Chief Probation Officers of California.
