After nearly 18 months of sometimes rough negotiations, CSAC
adopted a support position on AB 1299 as amended by Assembly
Member Ridley-Thomas last month. The bill will now ensure timely
mental health services for foster or probation youth who are
placed out of the county of original jurisdiction. The Senate
Appropriations Committee did not take up AB 1299 this morning. We
are disappointed that the bill was not heard after all the effort
that went into amending the bill from the author, sponsors, and
stakeholders.
CSAC had worked closely with the author, the California Alliance
of Child and Family Services, and the Steinberg Institute to
amend the bill to both ensure the timely provision of services
for foster youth who are placed outside of their original county
of residence and clarify how out-of-county placement decisions
are made. The mental health directors, welfare directors, and
probation chiefs were also involved in the negotiations, and the
author and sponsors incorporated many of the amendments suggested
by counties in the August, 1, 2016, version of the bill.
