ARTICLE 6. Computation and Payment of Aid Grants [11450. - 11469.3.]

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC 6.

in effect

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11450. Section 11450.

(a) (1) (A) Aid shall be paid for each needy family, which shall include all eligible children of each eligible applicant or recipient child and the parents of the children, but shall not include a fetus, or recipients of aid under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12000), qualified for aid under this chapter. In determining the amount of aid paid, and notwithstanding the minimum basic standards of adequate care specified in Section 11452, the family’s income, exclusive of any amounts considered exempt as income or paid pursuant to subdivision (e) or Section 11453.1, determined for the prospective semiannual period pursuant to Sections 11265.1, 11265.2, and 11265.3, and then calculated pursuant to Section 11451.5, shall be deducted from the sum specified in the following table, as adjusted for cost-of-living increases pursuant to Section 11453 and paragraph (2). In no case shall the amount of aid paid for each month exceed the sum specified in the following table, as adjusted for cost-of-living increases pursuant to Section 11453 and paragraph (2), plus any special needs, as specified in subdivisions (c), (e), and (f): Number of eligible needy persons in the same home Maximum aid 1 $ 326 2 535 3 663 4 788 5 899 6 1,010 7 1,109 8 1,209 9 1,306 10 or more 1,403 (B) If, when, and during those times that the United States government increases or decreases its contributions in assistance of needy children in this state above or below the amount paid on July 1, 1972, the amounts specified in the above table shall be increased or decreased by an amount equal to that increase or decrease by the United States government, provided that no increase or decrease shall be subject to subsequent adjustment pursuant to Section 11453. (2) The sums specified in paragraph (1) shall not be adjusted for cost of living for the 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, and 1997–98 fiscal years, and through October 31, 1998, nor shall that amount be included in the base for calculating any cost-of-living increases for any fiscal year thereafter. Elimination of the cost-of-living adjustment pursuant to this paragraph shall satisfy the requirements of former Section 11453.05, and no further reduction shall be made pursuant to that section. (b) (1) (A) Until the date that paragraph (2) is effective, if the family does not include a needy child qualified for aid under this chapter, aid shall be paid to a pregnant child who is 18 years of age or younger at any time after verification of pregnancy, in the amount that would otherwise be paid to one person, as specified in subdivision (a), if the pregnant child and the child, if born, would have qualified for aid under this chapter. Verification of pregnancy shall be required as a condition of eligibility for aid under this paragraph. (B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), and until the date that paragraph (2) is effective, if the family does not include a needy child qualified for aid under this chapter, aid shall be paid to a pregnant person for the month in which the birth is anticipated and for the six-month period immediately prior to the month in which the birth is anticipated, in the amount that would otherwise be paid to one person, as specified in subdivision (a), if the pregnant person and child, if born, would have qualified for aid under this chapter. Verification of pregnancy is required as a condition of eligibility for aid under this paragraph. (2) (A) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if the family does not include a needy child qualified for aid under this chapter, aid shall be paid to a pregnant person as of the date of the application for aid, in the amount that would otherwise be paid to one person, as specified in subdivision (a), if the pregnant person or the child, if born, would have qualified for aid under this chapter. Verification of pregnancy shall be required as a condition of eligibility for aid under this paragraph. (B) A pregnant person may provide verification of pregnancy as required in subparagraph (A) by means of a sworn statement or, if necessary, a verbal attestation. Medical verification of pregnancy shall be submitted within 30 working days following submission of the sworn statement or verbal attestation for benefits to continue. If the applicant fails to submit medical verification of pregnancy within 30 working days, the county human services agency shall continue aid when the applicant presents evidence of good faith efforts to comply with this requirement. (C) (i) A person who receives aid pursuant to this paragraph shall report to the county, orally or in writing, within 30 days following the end of their pregnancy. (ii) Aid for persons under this paragraph shall discontinue at the end of the month following the month in which the person reports the end of their pregnancy to the county human services agency. (iii) Prior to discontinuing aid for a person under this paragraph due to the end of their pregnancy, the county human services agency shall provide information about, and referral to, mental health services, including, but not limited to, services provided by the county human services agency, when appropriate. (D) This paragraph shall take effect on July 1, 2022, or on the date that the department notifies the Legislature that the California Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement this paragraph, whichever date is later. (c) (1) The amount of forty-seven dollars ($47) per month shall be paid to a pregnant person qualified for aid under subdivision (a) or (b) to meet the special needs resulting from pregnancy if the pregnant person and child, if born, would have qualified for aid under this chapter. The county human services agency shall require a pregnant person to provide medical verification of pregnancy. The county human services agency shall refer all recipients of aid under this subdivision to a local provider of the California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, and, commencing October 1, 2023, to perinatal home visiting services administered by the county public health agency, county human services agency, or applicable county home visiting provider. If that payment to a pregnant person qualified for aid under subdivision (a) is considered income under federal law in the first five months of pregnancy, payments under this subdivision do not apply to a person eligible under subdivision (a), except for the month in which birth is anticipated and for the three-month period immediately prior to the month in which delivery is anticipated, if the pregnant person and child, if born, would have qualified for aid under this chapter. (2) A pregnant person may provide the verification of pregnancy required by paragraph (1) by means of a sworn statement or, if necessary, a verbal attestation. Medical verification of pregnancy shall be submitted within 30 working days following submission of the sworn statement or verbal attestation for the pregnancy special need benefit to continue. If the pregnant person fails to submit medical verification of pregnancy within 30 working days, the county human services agency shall continue the benefit when the applicant presents evidence of good faith efforts to comply with this requirement. (3) Beginning May 1, 2022, or on the date that the department notifies the Legislature that the California Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement this paragraph, the special needs payment described in paragraph (1) shall be one hundred dollars ($100) per month. (4) Beginning July 1, 2022, or on the date that the department notifies the Legislature that the California Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement this paragraph, the special needs payment described in this subdivision shall discontinue at the end of the month following the month in which a person reports the end of their pregnancy to the county human services agency. (d) For children receiving AFDC-FC under this chapter, there shall be paid, exclusive of any amount considered exempt as income, an amount of aid each month that, if added to the child’s income, is equal to the rate specified in Section 11460, 11461, 11462, or 11463. In addition, the child is eligible for special needs, as specified in departmental regulations. (e) In addition to the amounts payable under subdivision (a) and former Section 11453.1, a family is entitled to receive an allowance for recurring special needs not common to a majority of recipients. These recurring special needs include, but are not limited to, special diets upon the recommendation of a physician for circumstances other than pregnancy, and unusual costs of transportation, laundry, housekeeping services, telephone, and utilities. The recurring special needs allowance for each family per month shall not exceed that amount resulting from multiplying the sum of ten dollars ($10) by the number of recipients in the family who are eligible for assistance. (f) (1) After a family has used all available liquid resources, both exempt and nonexempt, in excess of one hundred dollars ($100), with the exception of funds deposited in a restricted account described in subdivision (a) of Section 11155.2, the family is also entitled to receive an allowance for nonrecurring special needs. This paragraph does not apply to the allowance for nonrecurring special needs for homeless assistance pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3). (2) An allowance for nonrecurring special needs shall be granted for replacement of clothing and household equipment and for emergency housing needs other than those needs addressed by subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3). These needs shall be caused by sudden and unusual circumstances beyond the control of the needy family. The department shall establish the allowance for each of the nonrecurring special needs items. The sum of all nonrecurring special needs provided by this subdivision shall not exceed six hundred dollars ($600) per event. (3) (A) (i) An allowance for nonrecurring special needs for homeless assistance is available to a family that is homeless and seeking shelter when the family is eligible for aid under this chapter. (ii) (I) Homeless assistance for temporary shelter is also available to families that are homeless and seeking shelter that are apparently eligible for aid under this chapter. Apparent eligibility exists when evidence presented by the applicant, or that is otherwise available to the county human services agency, and the information provided on the application documents indicate that there would be eligibility for aid under this chapter if the evidence and information were verified. However, a noncitizen applicant who does not provide verification of their eligible immigrant status, or a person with no eligible children who does not provide verification of their pregnancy, is not apparently eligible for purposes of this section. (II) A pregnant person may provide verification of pregnancy, as required in subclause (I), by means of a sworn statement or, if necessary, a verbal attestation. Medical verification of pregnancy shall be submitted within 30 working days following submission of the sworn statement or verbal attestation for benefits to continue. If the applicant fails to submit medical verification of pregnancy within 30 working days, the county human services agency shall continue aid when the applicant presents evidence of good faith efforts to comply with this requirement. (iii) Homeless assistance for temporary shelter is also available to families that are homeless and seeking shelter that would be eligible for aid under this chapter but for the fact that the only child or children in the family are in out-of-home placement pursuant to an order of the dependency court, if the family is receiving reunification services and the county determines that homeless assistance is necessary for reunification to occur. (B) A family is considered homeless, for the purpose of this section, when the family lacks a fixed and regular nighttime residence, the family has a primary nighttime residence that is a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations, or the family is residing in a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings. A family is also considered homeless for the purpose of this section if the family has received a notice to pay rent or quit. (4) (A) (i) A nonrecurring special needs benefit of eighty-five dollars ($85) a day shall be available to families of up to four members for the costs of temporary shelter, subject to the requirements of this paragraph. The fifth and additional members of the family shall each receive fifteen dollars ($15) per day, up to a daily maximum of one hundred forty-five dollars ($145). County human services agencies may increase the daily amount available for temporary shelter as necessary to secure the additional bedspace needed by the family. (ii) This special needs benefit shall be granted or denied the same day as the family’s application for homeless assistance, and benefits shall be available for up to three working days. Upon applying for homeless assistance, the family shall provide a sworn statement that the family is homeless. If the family meets the criteria of questionable homelessness, which means that there is reason to suspect that the family has permanent housing, the county human services agency shall refer the family to its early fraud prevention and detection unit, if the county has such a unit, for assistance in the verification of homelessness within this period. (iii) After homelessness has been verified, the three-day limit shall be extended for a period of time that, when added to the initial benefits provided, does not exceed a total of 16 calendar days. This extension of benefits shall be done in increments of one week, and shall be based upon searching for permanent housing, which shall be documented on a housing search form, good cause, or other circumstances defined by the department. Documentation of a housing search is required for the initial extension of benefits beyond the three-day limit and on a weekly basis thereafter if the family is receiving temporary shelter benefits. Good cause shall include, but is not limited to, situations in which the county human services agency has determined that the family, to the extent it is capable, has made a good faith but unsuccessful effort to secure permanent housing while receiving temporary shelter benefits or that the family is homeless as a direct and primary result of a state or federally declared disaster. (iv) Notwithstanding clauses (ii) and (iii), the county may waive the three-day limit and may provide benefits in increments of more than one week for a family that becomes homeless as a direct and primary result of a state or federally declared disaster. (B) (i) A nonrecurring special needs benefit for permanent housing assistance is available to pay for last month’s rent and security deposits if these payments are conditions of securing a residence, or to pay for up to two months of rent arrearages, if these payments are a reasonable condition of preventing eviction. (ii) The last month’s rent or monthly arrearage portion of the payment shall meet both of the following requirements: (I) (ia) It shall not exceed 80 percent of the family’s total monthly household income without the value of CalFresh benefits or special needs benefit for a family of that size. (ib) Beginning January 1, 2026, or on the date that the department notifies the Legislature that the California Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement this paragraph, whichever date is later, and for purposes of this subparagraph, the county human services agency shall include in the calculation of the family’s total monthly household income any amount that is regularly received or will be regularly received from other government and nonprofit housing and homeless subsidy programs and any regularly received private support intended or designed to help the family with housing, such as financial support from an individual outside the household. The additional sources of income described in the previous sentence shall not be included in the calculation of the family’s income for purposes of calculating the amount of aid paid pursuant to subdivision (a). (II) (ia) It shall only be made to families that have found permanent housing costing no more than 80 percent of the family’s total monthly household income without the value of CalFresh benefits or special needs benefit for a family of that size. (ib) Beginning January 1, 2026, or on the date that the department notifies the Legislature that the California Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement this paragraph, whichever date is later, and for purposes of this subparagraph, the county human services agency shall include in the calculation of the family’s total monthly household income any amount that is regularly received or will be regularly received from other government and nonprofit housing and homeless subsidy programs and any regularly received private support intended or designed to help the family with housing, such as financial support from an individual outside the household. The additional sources of income described in the previous sentence shall not be included in the calculation of the family’s income for purposes of calculating the amount of aid paid pursuant to subdivision (a). (iii) However, if the county human services agency determines that a family intends to reside with individuals who will be sharing housing costs, the county human services agency shall, in appropriate circumstances, set aside the condition specified in subclause (II) of clause (ii). (C) The nonrecurring special needs benefit for permanent housing assistance is also available to cover the standard costs of deposits for utilities that are necessary for the health and safety of the family. (D) A payment for, or denial of, permanent housing assistance shall be issued no later than one working day from the time that a family presents evidence of the availability of permanent housing. If an applicant family provides evidence of the availability of permanent housing before the county human services agency has established eligibility for aid under this chapter, the county human services agency shall complete the eligibility determination so that the payment for, or denial of, permanent housing assistance is issued within one working day from the submission of evidence of the availability of permanent housing, unless the family has failed to provide all of the verification necessary to establish eligibility for aid under this chapter. (E) (i) Except as provided in clauses (ii) and (iii), eligibility for the temporary shelter assistance and the permanent housing assistance pursuant to this paragraph is limited to the number of days allowable under subparagraph (A) for temporary shelter assistance and one payment of permanent housing assistance every 12 months. A person who applies for homeless assistance benefits shall be informed that, with certain exceptions, the temporary shelter benefit is limited to the number of days allowable under subparagraph (A) for the 12-month period. (ii) (I) A family that becomes homeless as a direct and primary result of a state or federally declared disaster is eligible for homeless assistance. (II) If there is a state or federally declared disaster in a county, the county human services agency shall coordinate with public and private disaster response organizations and agencies to identify and inform recipients of their eligibility for homeless assistance available pursuant to subclause (H). (iii) A family is eligible for homeless assistance if homelessness is a direct result of domestic violence by a spouse, partner, or roommate; physical or mental illness that is medically verified that shall not include a diagnosis of alcoholism, drug addiction, or psychological stress; or the uninhabitability of the former residence caused by sudden and unusual circumstances beyond the control of the family, including natural catastrophe, fire, or condemnation. These circumstances shall be verified by a third-party governmental or private health and human services agency, except that domestic violence may also be verified by a sworn statement by the victim, as provided under Section 11495.25. Homeless assistance payments based on these specific circumstances may not be received more often than once in any 12-month period. In addition, if the domestic violence is verified by a sworn statement by the victim, the homeless assistance payments shall be limited to two periods of not more than 16 cumulative calendar days of temporary shelter assistance and two payments of permanent housing assistance. A county may require that a recipient of homeless assistance benefits who qualifies under this paragraph for a second time in a 24-month period participate in a homelessness avoidance case plan as a condition of eligibility for homeless assistance benefits. However, commencing October 1, 2023, a county may require participation in that homelessness avoidance case plan as a condition of eligibility only if the county has also provided a housing navigation caseworker who can assist with securing permanent housing and housing case management services. The county human services agency shall immediately inform recipients who verify domestic violence by a sworn statement of the availability of domestic violence counseling and services, and refer those recipients to services upon request. (iv) If a county requires a recipient who verifies domestic violence by a sworn statement to participate in a homelessness avoidance case plan pursuant to clause (iii), the plan shall include the provision of domestic violence services, if appropriate. (v) If a recipient seeking homeless assistance based on domestic violence pursuant to clause (iii) has previously received homeless avoidance services based on domestic violence, the county shall review whether services were offered to the recipient and consider what additional services would assist the recipient in leaving the domestic violence situation. (vi) The county human services agency shall report necessary data to the department through a statewide homeless assistance payment indicator system, as requested by the department, regarding all recipients of aid under this paragraph. (F) Payments to providers for temporary shelter and permanent housing and utilities shall be made on behalf of families requesting these payments. (G) The daily amount for the temporary shelter special needs benefit for homeless assistance may be increased if authorized by the current year’s Budget Act by specifying a different daily allowance and appropriating the funds therefor. (H) A payment shall not be made pursuant to this paragraph unless the provider of housing is any of the following: (i) A commercial establishment. (ii) A shelter. (iii) A person with whom, or an establishment with which, the family requesting assistance has executed a valid lease, sublease, or shared housing agreement. (I) (i) A CalWORKs applicant who provides a sworn statement of past or present domestic abuse and who is fleeing their abuser is deemed to be homeless and is eligible for temporary shelter assistance under clause (i) of subparagraph (A) and under subparagraph (E), notwithstanding any income and assets attributable to the alleged abuser. (ii) The homeless assistance payments issued under this subparagraph shall be granted the same day as the family’s application, and benefits shall be available in increments of 16 days of temporary shelter assistance pursuant to clause (i) of subparagraph (A). The homeless assistance payments shall be limited to two periods of not more than 16 cumulative calendar days each of temporary shelter assistance within the applicant’s lifetime. The second 16-day period shall continue to be available when the applicant becomes a CalWORKs recipient during the first 16-day period. The homeless assistance payments issued under this subparagraph shall be in addition to other payments for which the CalWORKs applicant, if the applicant becomes a CalWORKs recipient, may later qualify under this subdivision. (iii) For purposes of this subparagraph, the housing search documentation described in clause (iii) of subparagraph (A) shall be required only upon issuance of an immediate need payment pursuant to Section 11266 or the issuance of benefits for the month of application. (g) The department shall establish rules and regulations ensuring the uniform statewide application of this section. (h) The department shall notify all applicants and recipients of aid through the standardized application form that these benefits are available and shall provide an opportunity for recipients to apply for the funds quickly and efficiently. (i) The department shall work with county human services agencies, the County Welfare Directors Association of California, and advocates of CalWORKs recipients to gather information regarding the actual costs of a nightly shelter and best practices for transitioning families from a temporary shelter to permanent housing, and to provide that information to the Legislature, to be submitted annually in accordance with Section 9795 of the Government Code. (j) (1) Except for the purposes of Section 15200, the amounts payable to recipients pursuant to Section 11453.1 shall not constitute part of the payment schedule set forth in subdivision (a). (2) The amounts payable to recipients pursuant to Section 11453.1 shall not constitute income to recipients of aid under this section. (k) For children receiving Kin-GAP pursuant to Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 11360) or Article 4.7 (commencing with Section 11385), there shall be paid, exclusive of any amount considered exempt as income, an amount of aid each month, which, when added to the child’s income, is equal to the rate specified in Sections 11364 and 11387. ( l ) (1) A county shall implement the semiannual reporting requirements in accordance with Chapter 501 of the Statutes of 2011 no later than October 1, 2013. (2) Upon completion of the implementation described in paragraph (1), each county shall provide a certificate to the director certifying that semiannual reporting has been implemented in the county. (3) Upon filing the certificate described in paragraph (2), a county shall comply with the semiannual reporting provisions of this section. (m) (1) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the State Department of Social Services may implement and administer this section by means of all-county letters or similar instructions from the department until regulations are adopted. These all-county letters or similar written instructions shall have the same force and effect as regulations until the adoption of regulations. (2) The department shall adopt emergency regulations no later than 18 months following the completion of all necessary automation to implement this section. The department may readopt any emergency regulation authorized by this section that is the same as, or substantially equivalent to, an emergency regulation previously adopted under this section. (3) The initial adoption of emergency regulations pursuant to this section and one readoption of emergency regulations shall be deemed an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or general welfare. Initial emergency regulations and the one readoption of emergency regulations authorized by this section shall be exempt from review by the Office of Administrative Law. The initial emergency regulations and the one readoption of emergency regulations authorized by this section shall be submitted to the Office of Administrative Law for filing with the Secretary of State and each shall remain in effect for no more than 180 days, by which time final regulations shall be adopted. (n) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2021, or on the date the department notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement this section, whichever date is later. (o) Notwithstanding subdivision (n), the individual changes imposed by the act adding this section that result in a cost shall become operative only if necessary funds are appropriated for these changes in the annual Budget Act or another statute for these purposes. (p) This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2024, or on the date the department notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement Section 11450, as added by Section 3 of the act that added this subdivision, whichever date is later, and is repealed on January 1 of the following year.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11450.01. Section 11450.01.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, commencing October 1, 1992, the maximum aid payments specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450 in effect on July 1, 1992, shall be reduced by 4.5 percent. (b) (1) The department shall seek the approval from the United States Department of Health and Human Services that is necessary to reduce the maximum aid payments specified in subdivision (a) by an additional amount equal to 1.3 percent of the maximum aid payments specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450 in effect on July 1, 1992. (2) The reduction provided by this subdivision shall be made on the first day of the month following 30 days after the date of approval by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11450.02. Section 11450.02.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, commencing July 1, 2009, the maximum aid payments in effect September 1, 2007, as specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450, shall be reduced by 4 percent. (b) Notwithstanding any other law, the maximum aid payments in effect on July 1, 2009, as specified in subdivision (a), shall be reduced by 8 percent, effective on June 1, 2011, or on the first day of the first month following 90 days after the effective date of the act that added this subdivision, whichever is later.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11450.3. Section 11450.3.

(a) The director may establish, within the department, the Emergency Housing Apartment Program Demonstration Project. (b) The director may, by formal order, waive the operation of specific provisions in paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) of Section 11450, as required for participation in the Emergency Housing Apartment Program Demonstration Project. The order establishing the waiver shall limit the operation of the demonstration project to San Francisco or Contra Costa County, or both, for no more than five years of operation, and shall not result in the reduction or elimination of any family’s eligibility for assistance under paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) of Section 11450. The order establishing the waiver shall not take effect unless and until the following conditions have been met: (1) The United States Department of Health and Human Services has approved federal financial participation for the demonstration project. (2) A comprehensive plan, including an analysis of the expected costs and savings, has been published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or counties conducting the demonstration project and filed with the policy and fiscal committees of each house of the Legislature. (c) The county or counties participating in the demonstration project authorized by this section shall submit an annual report to the department on the demonstration project. The county or counties shall additionally collect and report any data and findings as required by the department and shall cooperate with the department in evaluating the demonstration project. (d) It is the intent of the Legislature that funding for the demonstration project authorized by this section be contained in annual Budget Act appropriations.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11450.03. Section 11450.03.

(a) Notwithstanding the maximum aid payments specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450, families that have resided in this state for less than 12 months shall be paid an amount calculated in accordance with paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450, not to exceed the maximum aid payment that would have been received by that family from the state of prior residence. (b) This section shall not become operative until the date of approval by the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services necessary to implement the provisions of this section so as to ensure the continued compliance of the state plan for the following: (1) Title IV of the federal Social Security Act (Subchapter 4 (commencing with Section 601) of Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the United States Code). (2) Title IX of the federal Social Security Act (Subchapter 19 (commencing with Section 1396) of Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the United States Code).

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11450.4. Section 11450.4.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to establish an emergency assistance for needy families program to serve the shelter needs of homeless families apparently eligible for aid pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 11450. To this end, the State Department of Social Services shall conduct negotiations with the United States Department of Health and Human Services on establishing an emergency assistance program to address the temporary and permanent shelter needs of homeless families currently served under paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) of Section 11450. (b) (1) Upon receiving federal approval for an emergency assistance program and prior to implementation, the department shall notify the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature of its intent to implement the emergency assistance program. The notification shall identify those portions of paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) of Section 11450 which are intended to be superseded by the emergency assistance program. (2) Except as provided in this subdivision, the emergency assistance program for which notification is submitted to the Legislature pursuant to paragraph (1) shall become effective the first day after 120 calendar days of continuous session of the Legislature after the date on which the notification is transmitted, or at a later date as may be indicated in the notification, unless, prior to the end of the 120-calendar-day period, either house of the Legislature adopts by a majority vote of the duly elected and qualified members thereof a resolution indicating disapproval of the proposed emergency assistance program. (3) As used in this section, “120 calendar days of continuous session” shall be deemed broken only by an adjournment sine die, but in computing the 120 calendar days for the purposes of this section, days on which either house is not in session because of a recess of more than 10 days shall not be included. (c) Upon implementation of the emergency assistance program, the department shall cease implementation of those portions of paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) of Section 11450 which are superseded by the emergency assistance program.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11450.05. Section 11450.05.

(a) For purposes of determining the maximum aid payment specified in subdivision (a) of Section 11450, the number of needy persons in the same family shall not be decreased because of the death of a child in the assistance unit for the month in which the death occurred or the following month. (b) Aid paid under subdivision (a) shall not be deemed an overpayment unless the county determines, pursuant to Sections 11004 and 11004.1, that the assistance unit would have been subject to overpayment recovery, and the county would have sought recovery, even if the child had not died.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11450.5. Section 11450.5.

For purposes of computing and paying aid grants under this chapter, the director shall adopt regulations establishing a budgeting system consistent with Sections 11265.1, 11265.2, and 11265.3. Nothing in this section, or Sections 11004, 11257 and 11450, or any other provision of this code, shall be interpreted as prohibiting the establishment of, or otherwise restricting the operation of, any budgeting system adopted by the director.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11450.8. Section 11450.8.

No payment of aid pursuant to Section 11450 shall be made to a family for a month in which the amount the family would receive is less than ten dollars ($10). The family shall be considered in receipt of aid for all other purposes.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11450.9. Section 11450.9.

(a) (1) The department shall designate as energy assistance payments any increase in the maximum aid payments provided pursuant to Section 11450 made on or after the first day of the first session of the Legislature which is convened after the effective date of this section. (2) Increases subject to paragraph (1) shall include any increase provided pursuant to Sections 11453 and 11453.05. (b) The designation required by subdivision (a) shall be made to the extent allowed by federal law to increase CalFresh allotments to recipients of assistance under this chapter. (c) The department shall notify the federal government of the designation made pursuant to subdivision (a) no later than 60 days after it has submitted a report on the study required by subdivision (d). (d) It is the intent of the Legislature that the department designate the maximum amount of aid payments made under this chapter as energy assistance payments to the extent allowed under federal law to increase CalFresh allotments to recipients of assistance under this chapter.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11450.10. Section 11450.10.

Whenever the department is informed pursuant to either Section 857 or 1764.5 that a minor is being incarcerated for a period of at least 30 consecutive days, the department shall determine whether the minor is a part of a family for whom benefits are being received pursuant to Section 11450. In any case where it is determined that a child identified pursuant to this section is a part of a family for whom aid is being received pursuant to Section 11450, the department shall notify the county welfare department in the county in which the incarcerated youth resides prior to the first day of the month following the receipt of the notification by the Department of the Youth Authority or by the county juvenile hall or other county juvenile facility.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11450.11. Section 11450.11.

Whenever a county welfare department is informed that a child who is incarcerated is also a member of a family receiving benefits pursuant to Section 11450, the county welfare department shall seek reimbursement of any overpayments pursuant to existing law and regulation.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11450.12. Section 11450.12.

(a) (1) An applicant family shall not be eligible for aid under this chapter unless the family’s income, exclusive of the first four hundred fifty dollars ($450) of earned income for each employed person, is less than the minimum basic standard of adequate care, as specified in Section 11452. (2) If there are subsequent changes to the income exemption as specified in subdivision (c) of Section 11451.5, the earned income exemption amount specified in this section shall be changed by an equal amount. (b) An applicant family shall not be eligible for aid under this chapter if reasonably anticipated income, less exempt income, and exclusive of amounts of disability-based unearned income and earned income exempt under Section 11451.5, equals or exceeds the maximum aid payment specified in Section 11450. (c) A recipient family shall not be eligible for further aid under this chapter if reasonably anticipated income, less exempt income, exceeds the income reporting threshold specified in Sections 11265.3 and 11265.47. (d) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2022.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11450.13. Section 11450.13.

(a) In calculating the amount of aid to which an assistance unit is entitled in accordance with Section 11320.15, the maximum aid payment, adjusted to reflect the removal of the adult or adults from the assistance unit, shall be reduced by the gross income of the adult or adults removed from the assistance unit, determined for the semiannual period pursuant to Sections 11265.1, 11265.2, and 11265.3, and less any amounts exempted pursuant to Section 11451.5. Aid may be provided in the form of cash or vouchers, at the option of the county. (b) (1) This section shall become operative on April 1, 2013. A county shall implement the semiannual reporting requirements in accordance with the act that added this section no later than October 1, 2013. (2) Upon implementation described in paragraph (1), each county shall provide a certificate to the director certifying that semiannual reporting has been implemented in the county. (3) Upon filing the certificate described in paragraph (2), a county shall comply with the semiannual reporting provisions of this section.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11450.015. Section 11450.015.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the maximum aid payments in effect on June 30, 1993, in accordance with paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450 as reduced by subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 11450.01, shall be reduced by 2.7 percent beginning the first of the month following 60 days after the enactment of this section.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11450.16. Section 11450.16.

(a) For purposes of determining eligibility under this chapter, and for computing the amount of aid payment under Section 11450, families shall be grouped into assistance units. (b) Every assistance unit shall include at least one of the following persons: (1) One of each of the following: (A) An eligible child. (B) The caretaker relative of an otherwise eligible child who is not receiving aid under Section 11250 because that child is receiving benefits under Title XVI of the Social Security Act (Subchapter 16 (commencing with Section 1381) of Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the United States Code), or Kin-GAP payments under Section 11364 or 11387, or foster care payments under Section 11461. (2) A pregnant woman who is eligible for payments under subdivision (c) of Section 11450. (c) Every assistance unit shall, in addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), include the eligible parents of the eligible child and the eligible siblings, including half-siblings, of the eligible child when those persons reside in the same home as the eligible child. This subdivision shall not apply to any convicted offender who is permitted to reside at the home of the eligible child as part of a court-imposed sentence and who is considered an absent parent under Section 11250. (d) An assistance unit may, at the option of the family comprising the assistance unit, also include the nonparent caretaker relative of the eligible child, the spouse of the parent of the eligible child, otherwise eligible nonsibling children in the care of the caretaker relative of the eligible child, and the alternatively sentenced offender parent exempted under subdivision (c). (e) If two or more assistance units reside in the same home, they shall be combined into one assistance unit when any of the following circumstances occurs: (1) There is a common caretaker relative for the eligible children. (2) One caretaker relative marries another caretaker relative. (3) Two caretaker relatives are the parents of an eligible child. (f) For purposes of this section, “caretaker relative” means the parent or other relative, as defined by regulations adopted by the department, who exercises responsibility and control of a child.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11450.17. Section 11450.17.

(a) (1) For purposes of determining the maximum aid payment specified in subdivision (a) of Section 11450 and for no other purpose, the number of needy persons in the same family shall not include a stepsibling or a half-sibling, as defined in subdivision (d). (2) One hundred percent of any child support payment received for a child described in subdivision (d) shall be paid to the assistance unit. Any child support payment received for that child shall not be considered as income to the family for the purpose of calculating the amount of aid for which the family is eligible under this article. (b) Each county welfare department shall notify applicants for assistance under this chapter, in writing, of the provisions of this section. The county welfare department shall also provide the notification to recipients of aid under this chapter, in writing, at the time of redetermination, or sooner. (c) Both the department and the Department of Child Support Services shall each seek all appropriate federal waivers for the implementation of this section as necessary. If federal waivers are deemed necessary, this section shall be implemented only if federal waivers are granted. (d) For purposes of this section, “stepsibling” or “half-sibling” means a child who meets all of the following conditions: (1) He or she lives with at least one eligible child. (2) He or she is a child for whom child support payments are received. (3) The monthly child support payments received for the child are greater than the monthly amount of aid that the child would receive under Section 11450. (4) The parent or caretaker relative for the assistance unit has requested in writing that the child not be included in the number of needy persons used to calculate the maximum aid payment. (e) The designation of whether or not a child is a stepsibling or half-sibling, as defined in subdivision (d), shall only be made or reevaluated at the same time as the annual redetermination of eligibility and the processing of the semiannual report, except when it has been determined by the county that good cause exists for the designation to be made at a different time when the parent or caretaker relative voluntarily reports mid-period pursuant to Section 11265.3 or 11265.47 that the child support payment or payments have decreased or ended. (f) This section shall become operative on November 1, 2018.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11450.017. Section 11450.017.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the maximum aid payment in effect on June 30, 1994, in accordance with paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450 as reduced by subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 11450.01 and Section 11450.015, shall be reduced by 2.3 percent beginning the first of the month following 50 days after the effective date of this section.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11450.018. Section 11450.018.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the maximum aid payment in accordance with paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450 as reduced by subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 11450.01, Section 11450.015, and Section 11450.017, shall be reduced by 4.9 percent for counties in Region 2, as specified in Section 11452.018. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, through October 31, 1998, the maximum aid payment in accordance with paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450, as reduced by subdivision (a) and (b) of Section 11450.01, Section 11450.015, Section 11450.017, and subdivision (a) shall be reduced by 4.9 percent. (c) Prior to implementing the reductions specified in subdivisions (a) and (b), the director shall apply for and obtain a waiver from the United States Department of Health and Human Services of Section 1396a(c)(1) of Title 42 of the United States Code. The reduction shall be implemented to the extent the waiver is granted and only so long as the waiver is effective. This subdivision shall not apply if either the federal waiver process set forth at Section 1315 of Title 42 of the United States Code or Section 1396a(c) is repealed or modified such that a waiver is not necessary to implement subdivision (a) or (b). (d) This section shall become operative and the reductions specified in subdivisions (a) and (b) shall commence on the first day of the month following 30 days after the receipt of federal approval or on the first day of the month following 30 days after a change in federal law that allows states to reduce aid payments without any risk to federal funding under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, whichever is earlier, but no earlier than October 1, 1995.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11450.019. Section 11450.019.

Effective the first day of the month following 90 days after a change in federal law that allows states to reduce aid payments without any risk to federal funding under Title XIX of the Social Security Act contained in Subchapter XIX (commencing with Section 1396) of Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the United States Code, the reductions in maximum aid payments specified in Sections 11450.01, 11450.015, and 11450.017 shall not be applied when all of the parents or caretaker relatives of the aided child living in the home of the aided child meet one of the following conditions: (a) The individual is disabled and receiving benefits under Section 12200 or 12300. (b) The individual is a nonparent caretaker who is not included in the assistance unit with the child. (c) The individual is disabled and is receiving State Disability Insurance benefits or Worker’s Compensation Temporary Disability benefits.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11450.021. Section 11450.021.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, effective April 1, 2019, the maximum aid payments pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450 in effect on July 1, 2018, shall be increased by 10 percent. (b) The counties’ share of costs resulting from implementation of the increase to maximum aid payments pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be subject to Section 15200.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11450.022. Section 11450.022.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to increase CalWORKs maximum aid payment levels in the 2018–19, 2019–20, and 2020–21 fiscal years, or until the maximum aid payment levels reach 50 percent of the federal poverty level for the family size that is one greater than the assistance unit. (b) As a first step toward this goal, the Legislature is adopting a 10-percent increase to the maximum aid payment levels to become effective April 1, 2019, as specified in Section 11450.021. (c) For the second step, it is the intent of the Legislature to increase the maximum aid payment levels to close the gap by one-half between the maximum aid payment levels prior to taking the second step and 50 percent of the federal poverty level for the family size that is one greater than the assistance unit goal for that year. (d) For the third step, it is the intent of the Legislature to increase the maximum aid payment levels to fully close the gap between the maximum aid payment levels prior to taking the third step and 50 percent of the federal poverty level for the family size that is one greater than the assistance unit goal for that year. (e) Any increases to maximum aid payment levels after July 1, 2018, are contingent upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11450.023. Section 11450.023.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, effective October 1, 2019, the maximum aid payments pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450 in effect on April 1, 2019, shall be set forth as follows: REGION 1 Assistance Unit Size Maximum Aid Payment-Exempt Maximum Aid Payment-Nonexempt 1 $606 $550 2 $778 $696 3 $983 $878 4 $1,181 $1,060 5 $1,385 $1,242 6 $1,589 $1,424 7 $1,792 $1,606 8 $1,998 $1,788 9 $2,199 $1,970 10 or more $2,406 $2,152 REGION 2 Assistance Unit Size Maximum Aid Payment-Exempt Maximum Aid Payment-Nonexempt 1 $576 $520 2 $739 $661 3 $934 $834 4 $1,122 $1,007 5 $1,316 $1,180 6 $1,510 $1,353 7 $1,702 $1,526 8 $1,898 $1,699 9 $2,089 $1,872 10 or more $2,286 $2,044 (b) For purposes of this section, “Region 1” and “Region 2” have the same meanings as defined in Section 11452.018.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11450.025. Section 11450.025.

(a) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, effective on March 1, 2014, the maximum aid payments in effect on July 1, 2012, as specified in subdivision (b) of Section 11450.02, shall be increased by 5 percent. (2) Effective April 1, 2015, the maximum aid payments in effect on July 1, 2014, as specified in paragraph (1), shall be increased by 5 percent. (3) Effective October 1, 2016, the maximum aid payments in effect on July 1, 2016, as specified in paragraph (2), shall be increased by 1.43 percent. (4) (A) Effective January 1, 2017, households eligible for aid under this chapter shall receive an increased aid payment consistent with the repeal of former Section 11450.04, as it read on January 1, 2016, known as the “maximum family grant rule.” (B) In recognition of the increased cost of aid payments resulting from that repeal, moneys deposited into the Child Poverty and Family Supplemental Support Subaccount shall be allocated to counties pursuant to Section 17601.50 as follows: (i) One hundred seven million forty-seven thousand dollars ($107,047,000) for January 1, 2017, to June 30, 2017, inclusive. (ii) Two hundred twenty-three million four hundred fifty-four thousand dollars ($223,454,000) for the 2017–18 fiscal year and for every fiscal year thereafter. (5) Effective October 1, 2021, the maximum aid payments in effect on July 1, 2021, as specified in paragraph (3), shall be increased by 5.3 percent. (6) Effective October 1, 2022, the maximum aid payments in effect on July 1, 2022, as specified in paragraph (5), shall be increased by 11 percent. (7) Effective October 1, 2023, the maximum aid payments in effect on July 1, 2023, as specified in paragraph (6), shall be increased by 3.6 percent. (8) Effective October 1, 2024, the maximum aid payments in effect on July 1, 2024, as specified in paragraph (7), shall be increased by 0.3 percent. (b) Commencing in 2014 and annually thereafter, on or before January 10 and on or before May 14, the Director of Finance shall do all of the following: (1) Estimate the amount of growth revenues pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 17606.10 that will be deposited in the Child Poverty and Family Supplemental Support Subaccount of the Local Revenue Fund for the current fiscal year and the following fiscal year and the amounts in the subaccount carried over from prior fiscal years. (2) For the current fiscal year and the following fiscal year, determine the total cost of providing the increases described in subdivision (a), as well as any other increase in the maximum aid payments subsequently provided only under this section, after adjusting for updated projections of CalWORKs costs associated with caseload changes, as reflected in the local assistance subvention estimates prepared by the State Department of Social Services and released with the annual Governor’s Budget and subsequent May Revision update. (3) If the amount estimated in paragraph (1) plus the amount projected to be deposited for the current fiscal year into the Child Poverty and Family Supplemental Support Subaccount pursuant to subparagraph (3) of subdivision (e) of Section 17600.15 is greater than the amount determined in paragraph (2), the difference shall be used to calculate the percentage increase to the CalWORKs maximum aid payment standards that could be fully funded on an ongoing basis beginning the following fiscal year. (4) If the amount estimated in paragraph (1) plus the amount projected to be deposited for the current fiscal year into the Child Poverty and Family Supplemental Support Subaccount pursuant to subparagraph (3) of subdivision (e) of Section 17600.15 is equal to or less than the amount determined in paragraph (2), no additional increase to the CalWORKs maximum aid payment standards shall be provided in the following fiscal year in accordance with this section. (5) (A) Commencing with the 2014–15 fiscal year and for all fiscal years thereafter, if changes to the estimated amounts determined in paragraphs (1) or (2), or both, as of the May Revision, are enacted as part of the final budget, the Director of Finance shall repeat, using the same methodology used in the May Revision, the calculations described in paragraphs (3) and (4) using the revenue projections and grant costs assumed in the enacted budget. (B) If a calculation is required pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Department of Finance shall report the result of this calculation to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature upon enactment of the Budget Act. (c) An increase in maximum aid payments calculated pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), or pursuant to paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) if applicable, shall become effective on October 1 of the following fiscal year. (d) (1) An increase in maximum aid payments provided in accordance with this section shall be funded with growth revenues from the Child Poverty and Family Supplemental Support Subaccount in accordance with paragraph (3) of subdivision (e) of Section 17600.15 and subdivision (f) of Section 17606.10, to the extent funds are available in that subaccount. (2) If funds received by the Child Poverty and Family Supplemental Support Subaccount in a particular fiscal year are insufficient to fully fund any increases to maximum aid payments made pursuant to this section, the remaining cost for that fiscal year will be addressed through existing provisional authority included in the annual Budget Act. Additional increases to the maximum aid payments shall not be provided until and unless the ongoing cumulative costs of all prior increases provided pursuant to this section are fully funded by the Child Poverty and Family Supplemental Support Subaccount. (e) Notwithstanding Section 15200, counties shall not be required to contribute a share of the costs to cover the increases to maximum aid payments made pursuant to this section.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11450.026. Section 11450.026.

(a) Commencing in the 2019–20 fiscal year and for each fiscal year thereafter, if an incremental adjustment is made to the maximum aid payments pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450, the counties’ share of that adjustment, as required pursuant to Section 15200, shall be based upon the total incremental adjustment or the increase in the California Necessities Index pursuant to Section 11453 for the fiscal year in which the adjustment becomes effective, whichever is lower. (b) If more than one incremental adjustment is made to maximum aid payments pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450 during a single fiscal year, the counties’ share of those combined adjustments, as required pursuant to Section 15200, shall be based upon the total combined incremental adjustments or the increase in the California Necessities Index pursuant to Section 11453 for the fiscal year in which the adjustments become effective, whichever is lower. (c) This section shall not apply to any incremental increases or decreases made to the maximum aid payments prior to July 1, 2019. (d) This section shall not apply to any incremental increases or decreases made to maximum aid payments pursuant to Section 11450.025.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11450.027. Section 11450.027.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that, upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act, maximum aid payments in the CalWORKs program are sufficient to ensure that no child lives in deep poverty. As stated in Section 11450.022, it is the intent of the Legislature to increase CalWORKs maximum aid payments until the maximum aid payment levels reach 50 percent of the federal poverty level for the family size that is one greater than the assistance unit, accounting for families with an unaided family member and when children in these families receive a proportionally reduced grant. It is further the intent of the Legislature that, upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act, maximum aid payments increase in accordance with the growth of the federal poverty level to continue to ensure that no child lives in deep poverty. For purposes of this subdivision, “deep poverty” means at or below 50 percent of the federal poverty level. (b) Notwithstanding any other law, effective October 1, 2022, the maximum aid payments described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450, in effect on July 1, 2022, as specified in Section 11450.025, shall be increased by 10 percent in addition to the 11-percent increase specified in paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450.025. (c) Commencing on January 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, on or before January 10, the State Department of Social Services shall provide a display in writing to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature, and on the department’s internet website, showing the CalWORKs maximum aid payment amounts compared to the federal poverty level for the family size that is one greater than the assistance unit.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11451. Section 11451.

Any county may, in its discretion, pay from its own funds additional sums for the care of any needy child, and the state and county may pay such aid as is needed for the adequate care of the family from other state or county funds.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11451.5. Section 11451.5.

(a) The following income shall be exempt from the calculation of the income of the family for purposes of subdivision (a) of Section 11450: (1) If disability-based unearned income does not exceed two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225), both of the following amounts: (A) All disability-based unearned income, plus any amount of not otherwise exempt earned income equal to the amount of the difference between the amount of disability-based unearned income and two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225). (B) Fifty percent of all not otherwise exempt earned income in excess of the amount applied to meet the differential applied in subparagraph (A). (2) If disability-based unearned income exceeds two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225), both of the following amounts: (A) All of the first two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225) in disability-based unearned income. (B) Fifty percent of all earned income. (b) For purposes of this section: (1) Earned income means gross income received as wages, salary, employer-provided sick leave benefits, commissions, or profits from activities such as a business enterprise or farming in which the recipient is engaged as a self-employed individual or as an employee. (2) Disability-based unearned income means state disability insurance benefits, private disability insurance benefits, temporary workers’ compensation benefits, social security disability benefits, and any veteran’s disability compensation. (3) Unearned income means any income not described in paragraph (1) or (2). (c) This section shall become inoperative on June 1, 2020, or when the department notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement Section 11451.5, as added by Section 60 of the act that added this subdivision, whichever date is later, and as of that date is repealed.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11452. Section 11452.

(a) (1) Minimum basic standards of adequate care shall be distributed to the counties and shall be binding upon them. The standards are determined on the basis of the schedule set forth in this section, as adjusted for cost-of-living increases or decreases pursuant to Section 11453, which schedule is designed to ensure: (A) Safe, healthful housing. (B) Minimum clothing for health and decency. (C) Low-cost adequate food budget meeting recommended dietary allowances of the National Research Council. (D) Utilities. (E) Other items including household operation, education and incidentals, recreation, personal needs, and insurance. (F) Allowance for essential medical, dental, or other remedial care to the extent not otherwise provided at public expense. (2) The schedule of minimum basic standards of adequate care is as follows: Number of eligible needy persons in the same family Minimum basic standards of adequate care 1 $ 341 2 560 3 694 4 824 5 940 6 1,057 7 1,160 8 1,265 9 1,371 10 1,489 plus fourteen dollars ($14) for each additional needy person. (3) (A) No adjustment shall be made under this section for the 1990–91 and 1991–92 fiscal years to reflect any change in the cost of living. Elimination of the cost-of-living adjustment pursuant to this subparagraph shall satisfy the requirements of Section 11453.05, and no further reduction shall be made pursuant to that section. (B) Any cost-of-living adjustment under this section for the 1991–92 fiscal year and any subsequent fiscal year pursuant to Section 11453 shall not include any adjustment to reflect increases for the cost of living for the 1990–91 and 1991–92 fiscal years. (C) For the 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96 fiscal years, and through October 31, 1996, a cost-of-living adjustment equivalent to 70 percent of the amount calculated pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 11453 shall be made under this section. This adjustment, by reducing the cost-of-living adjustment that would otherwise have been made, shall satisfy the requirements of Section 11453.05, and no further reduction shall be made pursuant to that section. (b) The minimum basic standard of adequate care shall also include the amount or amounts resulting from an allowance for recurring special needs, as specified in subdivision (e) Section 11450, and the amount or amounts resulting from the granting of a nonrecurring special need, equal to the amounts specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (f) of Section 11450. (c) The department shall establish rules and regulations assuring the uniform application statewide of the provisions of this section.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11452.018. Section 11452.018.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the minimum basic standards of adequate care, as set forth in Section 11452, and as adjusted pursuant to any other provision of law, shall be changed for each county to reflect regional variations in housing cost based on the lowest quartile rent in each county as reported in the Decennial Census data for 1990. (b) Counties are assigned to one of two regions and the minimum basic standards of adequate care for counties in those regions are reduced as follows: (1) Region 1 shall include all counties with lowest quartile rents of four hundred dollars ($400) or more. There shall be no reduction in minimum basic standard of adequate care for counties in Region 1. Region 1 shall consist of the following counties: (A) Alameda County (B) Contra Costa County (C) Los Angeles County (D) Marin County (E) Monterey County (F) Napa County (G) Orange County (H) San Diego County (I) San Francisco County (J) San Luis Obispo County (K) San Mateo County (L) Santa Barbara County (M) Santa Clara County (N) Santa Cruz County (O) Solano County (P) Sonoma County (Q) Ventura County (2) Region 2 shall include all counties with lowest quartile rents below four hundred dollars ($400). There shall be a 4.9 percent reduction in the minimum basic standard of adequate care for counties in Region 2. Region 2 shall consist of the following counties: (A) Alpine County (B) Amador County (C) Butte County (D) Calaveras County (E) Colusa County (F) Del Norte County (G) El Dorado County (H) Fresno County (I) Glenn County (J) Humboldt County (K) Imperial County (L) Inyo County (M) Kern County (N) Kings County (O) Lake County (P) Lassen County (Q) Madera County (R) Mariposa County (S) Mendocino County (T) Merced County (U) Modoc County (V) Mono County (W) Nevada County (X) Placer County (Y) Plumas County (Z) Riverside County (AA) Sacramento County (AB) San Benito County (AC) San Bernardino County (AD) San Joaquin County (AE) Shasta County (AF) Sierra County (AG) Siskiyou County (AH) Stanislaus County (AI) Sutter County (AJ) Tehama County (AK) Trinity County (AL) Tulare County (AM) Tuolumne County (AN) Yolo County (AO) Yuba County (c) This section shall be operative during such time as subdivision (a) of Section 11450.018 is operative.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11453. Section 11453.

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (c), the amounts set forth in Section 11452 and subdivision (a) of Section 11450 shall be adjusted annually by the department to reflect any increases or decreases in the cost of living. These adjustments shall become effective July 1 of each year, unless otherwise specified by the Legislature. For the 2000–01 fiscal year to the 2003–04 fiscal year, inclusive, these adjustments shall become effective October 1 of each year. The cost-of-living adjustment shall be calculated by the Department of Finance based on the changes in the California Necessities Index, which as used in this section means the weighted average changes for food, clothing, fuel, utilities, rent, and transportation for low-income consumers. The computation of annual adjustments in the California Necessities Index shall be made in accordance with the following steps: (1) The base period expenditure amounts for each expenditure category within the California Necessities Index used to compute the annual grant adjustment are: Food $ 3,027 Clothing (apparel and upkeep) 406 Fuel and other utilities 529 Rent, residential 4,883 Transportation 1,757 Total $10,602 (2) Based on the appropriate components of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the percentage change shall be determined for the 12-month period ending with the December preceding the year for which the cost-of-living adjustment will take effect, for each expenditure category specified in subdivision (a) within the following geographical areas: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, San Francisco-Oakland, San Diego, and, to the extent statistically valid information is available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, additional geographical areas within the state which include not less than 80 percent of recipients of aid under this chapter. (3) Calculate a weighted percentage change for each of the expenditure categories specified in subdivision (a) using the applicable weighting factors for each area used by the State Department of Industrial Relations to calculate the California Consumer Price Index (CCPI). (4) Calculate a category adjustment factor for each expenditure category in subdivision (a) by (1) adding 100 to the applicable weighted percentage change as determined in paragraph (2) and (2) dividing the sum by 100. (5) Determine the expenditure amounts for the current year by multiplying each expenditure amount determined for the prior year by the applicable category adjustment factor determined in paragraph (4). (6) Determine the overall adjustment factor by dividing (1) the sum of the expenditure amounts as determined in paragraph (4) for the current year by (2) the sum of the expenditure amounts as determined in subdivision (d) for the prior year. (b) The overall adjustment factor determined by the preceding computation steps shall be multiplied by the schedules established pursuant to Section 11452 and subdivision (a) of Section 11450 as are in effect during the month of June preceding the fiscal year in which the adjustments are to occur and the product rounded to the nearest dollar. The resultant amounts shall constitute the new schedules which shall be filed with the Secretary of State. (c) (1) No adjustment to the maximum aid payment set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 11450 shall be made under this section for the purpose of increasing the benefits under this chapter for the 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, and 1997–98 fiscal years, and through October 31, 1998, to reflect any change in the cost of living. For the 1998–99 fiscal year, the cost-of-living adjustment that would have been provided on July 1, 1998, pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be made on November 1, 1998. No adjustment to the maximum aid payment set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 11450 shall be made under this section for the purpose of increasing the benefits under this chapter for the 2005–06 and 2006–07 fiscal years to reflect any change in the cost of living. Elimination of the cost-of-living adjustment pursuant to this paragraph shall satisfy the requirements of Section 11453.05, and no further reduction shall be made pursuant to that section. (2) No adjustment to the minimum basic standard of adequate care set forth in Section 11452 shall be made under this section for the purpose of increasing the benefits under this chapter for the 1990–91 and 1991–92 fiscal years to reflect any change in the cost of living. (3) In any fiscal year commencing with the 2000–01 fiscal year to the 2003–04 fiscal year, inclusive, when there is any increase in tax relief pursuant to the applicable paragraph of subdivision (a) of Section 10754 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, then the increase pursuant to subdivision (a) of this section shall occur. In any fiscal year commencing with the 2000–01 fiscal year to the 2003–04 fiscal year, inclusive, when there is no increase in tax relief pursuant to the applicable paragraph of subdivision (a) of Section 10754 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, then any increase pursuant to subdivision (a) of this section shall be suspended. (4) Notwithstanding paragraph (3), an adjustment to the maximum aid payments set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 11450 shall be made under this section for the 2002–03 fiscal year, but the adjustment shall become effective June 1, 2003. (5) No adjustment to the maximum aid payment set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 11450 shall be made under this section for the purpose of increasing benefits under this chapter for the 2007–08, 2008–09, and 2009–10 fiscal years. (6) For the 2010–11 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter, no adjustment to the maximum aid payment set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 11450 shall be made under this section unless otherwise specified by statute. (d) Adjustments for subsequent fiscal years pursuant to this section shall not include any adjustments for any fiscal year in which the cost of living was suspended pursuant to subdivision (c).

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11453.1. Section 11453.1.

(a) It is the intent of this section to assure that the food purchasing power provided by benefits available from CalFresh under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Chapter 51 (commencing with Section 2011), Title 7, United States Code) shall continue to be available to recipients of aid under this chapter, if, when and during such times as federal law is amended to preclude CalFresh benefits to such recipients, but does expressly permit the equivalent of such benefits to be provided as cash benefits to such recipients. (b) It is the further intent of this section to protect the financial interest of the state and counties by accomplishing the conversion of CalFresh benefits in such a manner that the conversion does not result in state and county costs of aid exceeding the costs in the base year, as hereinafter defined in this section. (c) If federal law is amended to preclude the provision of CalFresh benefits pursuant to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to applicants or recipients of aid under this chapter, when such federal law becomes operative, such of the following provisions for converting CalFresh benefits to cash benefits as is consistent with the intent of this section shall become operative immediately: (1) The bonus value of CalFresh benefits shall be paid in addition to the amounts payable pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 11450, provided that aggregate state and county expenditures pursuant to that section and this section do not thereby exceed the base-year costs. (2) If aggregate state and county expenditures pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 11450 and this section in any fiscal year would, by virtue of the operation of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of this section, result in an increase over the aggregate of such expenditures in the base year, the bonus value of CalFresh benefits paid pursuant to this section shall be reduced, on a pro rata basis, by such amount as will reduce aggregate state and county expenditures under that section and this section to an amount equal to the aggregate state and county expenditures in the base year. (d) For the purposes of this section, “base year” means that year designated by federal law as the year fixing the limit on nonfederal expenditures for programs established to implement programs under Part A of Title 4 of the Social Security Act. (e) For purposes of this section, “bonus value of CalFresh benefits” means the dollar amount that federal law permits to be paid to a child or a family of given size as a cash benefit in lieu of benefits under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. (f) For purposes of this section, “aggregate state and county expenditure” is defined as expenditure made under subdivision (a) of Section 11450 and this section, after deducting any federal reimbursements or credits, and excluding any cost-of-living increment paid pursuant to Section 11453.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11453.01. Section 11453.01.

(a) Commencing July 1, 2022, and each year thereafter, the maximum aid payment set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 11450 shall be adjusted annually to reflect any increases or decreases in the cost of living, and these adjustments shall become effective October 1 of each year. The annual cost-of-living adjustment shall be based on the increase in the California Necessities Index for the year in which the adjustment becomes effective. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), unless otherwise specified in the annual Budget Act, the cost-of-living adjustment pursuant to subdivision (a), commencing on or after July 1, 2022, and for each year thereafter, shall be 0 percent.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11453.2. Section 11453.2.

A county shall issue vouchers or vendor payments for at least rent and utilities payments, for any assistance unit in which any parent or caretaker relative has been subject to sanction of a consecutive period of not less than three months. Vouchers or vendor payments shall continue until the parent or caretaker relative is no longer subject to the sanction.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11454. Section 11454.

(a) A parent or caretaker relative shall not be eligible for aid under this chapter when the parent or caretaker relative has received aid under this chapter or from any state under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (Part A (commencing with Section 401) of Title IV of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 601 et seq.)) for a cumulative total of 60 months. (b) (1) Except as otherwise specified in subdivision (c), Section 11454.5, or other law, all months of aid received under this chapter from January 1, 1998, to the operative date of this section, inclusive, shall be applied to the 60-month time limit described in subdivision (a). (2) All months of aid received from January 1, 1998, to the operative date of this section, inclusive, in any state pursuant to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (Part A (commencing with Section 401) of Title IV of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 601 et seq.)), shall be applied to the 60-month time limit described in subdivision (a). (c) Subdivision (a) and paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) shall not be applicable when all parents or caretaker relatives of the aided child who are living in the home of the child meet any of the following requirements: (1) They are 60 years of age or older. (2) They meet one of the conditions specified in paragraph (4) or (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 11320.3. (3) They are not included in the assistance unit. (4) They are receiving benefits under Section 12200 or 12300, State Disability Insurance benefits or Workers’ Compensation Temporary Disability Insurance, if the disability significantly impairs the recipient’s ability to be regularly employed or participate in welfare-to-work activities. (5) They are incapable of maintaining employment or participating in welfare-to-work activities, as determined by the county, based on the assessment of the individual and the individual has a history of participation and full cooperation in welfare-to-work activities. (d) (1) Notwithstanding any other statute, regulation, or other state requirement, the department shall automate a one-time process that allows former CalWORKs recipients excluded from an existing assistance unit due to the formerly applicable 48-month time limit, but who have fewer than 60 countable months of time on aid in CalWORKs, to be added to the existing assistance unit if all information needed to complete an eligibility determination is in the case record and all other eligibility requirements have been met. (2) (A) Notwithstanding any other statute, regulation, or other state requirement, the county shall not require a former CalWORKs recipient excluded from an existing assistance unit due to the formerly applicable 48-month time limit to complete and submit CalWORKs forms CW 8, CW 8A, CW 2.1NA, or CW 2.1Q in order to add the former recipient to the existing assistance unit pursuant to paragraph (1). (B) A CalWORKs recipient added to an existing assistance unit pursuant to paragraph (1) shall complete and submit to the county CalWORKs forms CW 2.1NA and CW 2.1Q pertaining to child support within 60 days of being added to the assistance unit, or by the next scheduled semiannual report or annual redetermination, whichever is earlier. (3) This subdivision shall only remain operative for 120 days from the date of the operation of this section pursuant to subdivision (e). (e) This section shall become operative on May 1, 2022, or when the department notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement this section, whichever date is later.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11454.1. Section 11454.1.

(a) County welfare departments shall provide each recipient who is subject to the 60-month time limitation described in subdivision (a) of Section 11454 with written notice describing the 60-month time limitation described in that subdivision and the process by which recipients may claim exemptions from, and extensions to, the time limit. (b) The notice described in subdivision (a) shall be provided at the time the individual applies for aid, during the recipient’s annual redetermination, and at least once after the individual has participated for a total of 54 months, and prior to the end of the 57th month, that count toward the 60-month time limit. (c) The notice described in this section shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following: (1) The number of remaining months the adult recipient may be eligible to receive aid. (2) The manner in which the recipient may dispute the number of months counted toward the 60-month time limit. (d) This section shall become operative on May 1, 2022, or when the department notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement this section, whichever is later.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11454.5. Section 11454.5.

(a) Any month in which the following conditions exist shall not be counted as a month of receipt of aid for the purposes of subdivision (a) of, and paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of, Section 11454: (1) The recipient is exempt from participation under Article 3.2 (commencing with Section 11320) due to disability, or advanced age in accordance with paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 11320.3, or due to caretaking responsibilities that impair the recipient’s ability to be regularly employed, in accordance with paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 11320.3. (2) The recipient is eligible for, participating in, or exempt from, the Cal-Learn Program provided for pursuant to Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 11331), for any period during which the Cal-Learn Program is operative, is participating in another teen parent program approved by the department, or is a nonminor dependent under the supervision of the county welfare or probation department who is placed in an approved relative’s home and is eligible for aid under this section because the recipient satisfies the conditions described in Section 11403. (3) The cost of the cash aid provided to the recipient for the month is fully reimbursed by child support, whether collected in that month or any subsequent month. (4) The family is a former recipient of cash aid under this chapter and currently receives only childcare, case management, or supportive services pursuant to Section 11323.2 or Article 15.5 (commencing with Section 8350) of Chapter 2 of Part 6 of Title 1 of the Education Code. (5) To the extent provided by federal law, the recipient lived in Indian country, as defined by federal law, or an Alaskan native village in which at least 50 percent of the adults living in the Indian country or in the village are not employed. (6) The recipient received CalWORKs for any month between August 1, 2009, and January 1, 2015, and was either exempt from participation under paragraph (7) of subdivision (b) of Section 11320.3, or was exempt from participation and was not reengaged in accordance with subdivision (h) of Section 11320.3, as that section read on June 30, 2020. (7) The recipient is exempt from participating in welfare-to-work activities because the recipient has primary responsibility for personally providing care to a child 24 months of age or younger, pursuant to clause (iv) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (b) of Section 11320.3. (b) In cases where a lump-sum diversion payment is provided in lieu of cash aid under Section 11266.5, the month in which the payment is made or the months calculated pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 11266.5 shall count against the limits specified in Section 11454. (c) This section shall become inoperative on October 1, 2024, unless the changes made by Section 11454.5, as added by the act that added this subdivision, cannot be implemented without an update to the Statewide Automated Welfare Systems (SAWS), in which case, this section shall become inoperative on the date the department notifies the Legislature that SAWS can perform the necessary automation to implement Section 11454.5, as added by the act that added this subdivision, whichever is later, and, as of January 1 of the following year, is repealed.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11454.6. Section 11454.6.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 15200, to the extent that the exemptions from the time limits on aid specified in paragraphs (1), (2), (4), and (5) of subdivision (c) of Section 11454 and subdivision (a) of Section 11454.5 exceed 20 percent of the number of families aided in a county, for a period as determined by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, for purposes of measuring the hardship exemption for time limits, the county shall be responsible for the amount of aid that would otherwise have been paid through federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant funds pursuant to Section 11450, with respect to those persons exempt under either paragraphs (1), (2), (4), and (5) of subdivision (c) of Section 11454 or subdivision (a) of Section 11454.5 that exceed the 20 percent hardship exemption during the period determined by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and provided for in federal law. (b) Subdivision (a) shall not apply if the statewide percentage of families aided during that period is 20 percent or less. (c) The department may determine that a county has good cause for exceeding the 20-percent limitation provided for in subdivision (a). Under this determination, the county share may be reduced or waived by the department. (d) It is the intent of the Legislature that the steering committee as specified in Section 10544.317 review this provision to ensure that: (1) The state does not exceed the limit on hardship exemptions as provided in federal law. (2) Counties are not penalized for circumstances beyond their control and that statewide flexibility for allocation of the percentages is assured. (3) Recipients will have access to the hardship exemption, regardless of their county of origin.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11455. Section 11455.

If on the first day of the month a child is eligible for aid, aid for the entire month shall be paid.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11457. Section 11457.

(a) Money from noncustodial parents for child or spousal support with respect to whom an assignment under Section 11477 has been made shall be paid directly to the local child support agency and shall not be paid directly to the family. Absent parent support payments, when collected by or paid through any public officer or agency, shall be transmitted to the county department providing aid under this chapter until a procedure is established under subdivision (b). (b) The Department of Child Support Services, by regulation, shall work in conjunction with the California State Association of Counties, the County Welfare Director’s Association, the Child Support Director’s Association, and other pertinent stakeholders to establish procedures not in conflict with federal law, for the collection and distribution of noncustodial parent support payments. (c) If an amount collected as child or spousal support represents payment on the required support obligation for future months, the amount shall be applied to such future months. However, no such amounts shall be applied to future months unless amounts have been collected which fully satisfy the support obligation assigned under subdivision (a) of Section 11477 for the current months and all past months.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11458. Section 11458.

The county may cancel, suspend or revoke aid under this chapter for cause. Upon instructions from the department, the county shall cancel, suspend or revoke aid under this chapter. Upon request of the department, an immediate report of every suspension of aid shall be made to the department stating the reason for the suspension and showing the action of the county in approving the suspension.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11460. Section 11460.

(a) (1) Foster care providers shall be paid a per child per month rate in return for the care and supervision of the AFDC-FC child placed with them. The department is designated the single organizational unit whose duty it shall be to administer a state system for establishing rates in the AFDC-FC program. State functions shall be performed by the department or by delegation of the department to county welfare departments or Indian tribes, consortia of tribes, or tribal organizations that have entered into an agreement pursuant to Section 10553.1. (2) Foster care providers that care for a child in a home-based setting described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (g) of Section 11461, or in a certified home or an approved resource family of a foster family agency, shall be paid the per child per month rate as set forth in subdivision (g) of Section 11461, or, on and after the date required by paragraph (9) of subdivision (h) of Section 11461, the rate developed pursuant to the Tiered Rate Structure, as described in subdivision (h) of Section 11461, as applicable. (3) (A) In addition to administering the state system of rates described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), at the request of and in consultation with a county, the department shall have the authority to develop, implement, and approve alternative funding models and set individualized rates for innovative AFDC-FC programs or models of care and services that are consistent with statewide licensing and program requirements and that provide children with service alternatives to residential care, enhance the ability of children to remain in the least restrictive, most family-like setting possible, and promote services that address the needs and strengths of individual children and their families. (B) A county that chooses to request an alternative funding model or individualized rate under this paragraph shall pay the entire nonfederal share of any additional cost for providing these innovative programs or models of care and services that exceeds the nonfederal portions of the state system of rates established pursuant to subdivision (a). (C) (i) The provider shall indicate in the program statement the innovative approach or model of care and services for which there is a recognized need that the county seeks to meet. (ii) The requesting county, in consultation with the department, shall monitor the performance and outcomes of the provider consistent with the program statement to ensure that the purposes of the innovative program or model of care and services will be achieved commensurate with the alternative funding model or individualized rate. (D) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the department may implement this paragraph by means of all-county letters or similar written directives, which shall be exempt from submission to or review by the Office of Administrative Law. These all-county letters or similar written directives shall have the same force and effect as regulations until the adoption of regulations, no later than January 1, 2030. (b) “Care and supervision” includes food, clothing, shelter, daily supervision, school supplies, a child’s personal incidentals, liability insurance with respect to a child, reasonable travel to the child’s home for visitation, and reasonable travel for the child to remain in the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement. Reimbursement for the costs of educational travel, as provided for in this subdivision, shall be made pursuant to procedures determined by the department, in consultation with representatives of county welfare and probation directors, and additional stakeholders, as appropriate. (1) For a child or youth placed in a short-term residential therapeutic program or a licensed foster family agency, care and supervision shall also include reasonable administration and operational activities necessary to provide the items listed in this subdivision. (2) For a child or youth placed in a short-term residential therapeutic program or a licensed foster family agency, care and supervision may also include reasonable activities performed by social workers employed by the program provider that are not otherwise considered daily supervision or administration activities. (c) A foster care provider that accepts payments, following the effective date of this section, based on a rate established under this section, shall not receive rate increases or retroactive payments as the result of litigation challenging rates established prior to the effective date of this section. This shall apply regardless of whether a provider is a party to the litigation or a member of a class covered by the litigation. (d) A county is not precluded from using a portion of its county funds to increase rates paid to family homes, foster family agencies, and short-term residential therapeutic programs within that county, and to make payments for specialized care increments, clothing allowances, or infant supplements to homes within that county, solely at that county’s expense. (e) A county is not precluded from providing a supplemental rate to serve commercially sexually exploited foster children to provide for the additional care and supervision needs of these children. To the extent that federal financial participation is available, it is the intent of the Legislature that the federal funding shall be utilized.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11461. Section 11461.

(a) For children or, on and after January 1, 2012, nonminor dependents placed in a licensed or approved family home with a capacity of six or less, or in an approved home of a relative or nonrelated legal guardian, or the approved home of a nonrelative extended family member, as described in Section 362.7, or, on and after January 1, 2012, a supervised independent living placement, as defined in subdivision (w) of Section 11400, the per child per month basic rates in the following schedule shall be in effect for the period July 1, 1989, through December 31, 1989: Age Basic rate 0–4 $ 294 5–8 $ 319 9–11 $ 340 12–14 $ 378 15–20 $ 412 (b) (1) Any county that, as of October 1, 1989, has in effect a basic rate that is at the levels set forth in the schedule in subdivision (a), shall continue to receive state participation, as specified in subdivision (c) of Section 15200, at these levels. (2) Any county that, as of October 1, 1989, has in effect a basic rate that exceeds a level set forth in the schedule in subdivision (a), shall continue to receive the same level of state participation as it received on October 1, 1989. (c) The amounts in the schedule of basic rates in subdivision (a) shall be adjusted as follows: (1) Effective January 1, 1990, the amounts in the schedule of basic rates in subdivision (a) shall be increased by 12 percent. (2) Effective May 1, 1990, any county that did not increase the basic rate by 12 percent on January 1, 1990, shall do both of the following: (A) Increase the basic rate in effect December 31, 1989, for which state participation is received by 12 percent. (B) Increase the basic rate, as adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (A), by an additional 5 percent. (3) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), effective July 1, 1990, for the 1990–91 fiscal year, the amounts in the schedule of basic rates in subdivision (a) shall be increased by an additional 5 percent. (B) The rate increase required by subparagraph (A) shall not be applied to rates increased May 1, 1990, pursuant to paragraph (2). (4) Effective July 1, 1998, the amounts in the schedule of basic rates in subdivision (a) shall be increased by 6 percent. Notwithstanding any other law, the 6-percent increase provided for in this paragraph shall, retroactive to July 1, 1998, apply to every county, including any county to which paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) applies, and shall apply to foster care for every age group. (5) Notwithstanding any other law, any increase that takes effect after July 1, 1998, shall apply to every county, including any county to which paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) applies, and shall apply to foster care for every age group. (6) The increase in the basic foster family home rate shall apply only to children placed in a licensed foster family home receiving the basic rate or in an approved home of a relative or nonrelative extended family member, as described in Section 362.7, a supervised independent living placement, as defined in subdivision (w) of Section 11400, or a nonrelated legal guardian receiving the basic rate. The increased rate shall not be used to compute the monthly amount that may be paid to licensed foster family agencies for the placement of children in certified foster homes. (d) (1) (A) Beginning with the 1991–92 fiscal year, the schedule of basic rates in subdivision (a) shall be adjusted by the percentage changes in the California Necessities Index, computed pursuant to the methodology described in Section 11453, subject to the availability of funds. (B) In addition to the adjustment in subparagraph (A) effective January 1, 2000, the schedule of basic rates in subdivision (a) shall be increased by 2.36 percent rounded to the nearest dollar. (C) Effective January 1, 2008, the schedule of basic rates in subdivision (a), as adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (B), shall be increased by 5 percent, rounded to the nearest dollar. The increased rate shall not be used to compute the monthly amount that may be paid to licensed foster family agencies for the placement of children in certified foster family homes, and shall not be used to recompute the foster care maintenance payment that would have been paid based on the age-related, state-approved foster family home care rate and any applicable specialized care increment, for any adoption assistance agreement entered into prior to October 1, 1992, or in any subsequent reassessment for adoption assistance agreements executed before January 1, 2008. (2) (A) Any county that, as of the 1991–92 fiscal year, receives state participation for a basic rate that exceeds the amount set forth in the schedule of basic rates in subdivision (a) shall receive an increase each year in state participation for that basic rate of one-half of the percentage adjustments specified in paragraph (1) until the difference between the county’s adjusted state participation level for its basic rate and the adjusted schedule of basic rates is eliminated. (B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), all counties for the 1999–2000 fiscal year and the 2007–08 fiscal year shall receive an increase in state participation for the basic rate of the entire percentage adjustment described in paragraph (1). (3) If a county has, after receiving the adjustments specified in paragraph (2), a state participation level for a basic rate that is below the amount set forth in the adjusted schedule of basic rates for that fiscal year, the state participation level for that rate shall be further increased to the amount specified in the adjusted schedule of basic rates. (e) (1) As used in this section, “specialized care increment” means an amount paid on behalf of a child requiring specialized care to a home listed in subdivision (g) in addition to the rates set forth in subdivisions (g) and (h). Notwithstanding subdivision (g), the specialized care increment shall not be paid to a nonminor dependent placed in a supervised independent living placement as defined in subdivision (w) of Section 11400. A county or tribe that has entered into a Title IV-E intergovernmental agreement pursuant to Section 10553.1 may have a ratesetting system for specialized care to pay for the additional care and supervision needed to address the behavioral, emotional, and physical requirements of foster children. A county or tribe that has entered into a Title IV-E intergovernmental agreement pursuant to Section 10553.1 may modify its specialized care rate system as needed, to accommodate changing specialized placement needs of children. (2) (A) The department shall have the authority to review the county’s or tribe’s specialized care information, including the criteria and methodology used for compliance with state and federal law, and to require changes if necessary to conform to state and federal law. (B) The department shall make available to the public each county’s or tribe’s specialized care information, including the criteria and methodology used to determine the specialized care increments. (3) Upon a request by a county or tribe that has entered into a Title IV-E intergovernmental agreement pursuant to Section 10553.1 for technical assistance, specialized care information shall be provided by the department within 90 days of the request to the department. (4) (A) Except for subparagraph (B), beginning January 1, 1990, specialized care increments shall be adjusted in accordance with the methodology for the schedule of basic rates described in subdivision (g). (B) Notwithstanding subdivision (e) of Section 11460, for the 1993–94 fiscal year, an amount equal to 5 percent of the State Treasury appropriation for family homes shall be added to the total augmentation for the AFDC-FC program in order to provide incentives and assistance to counties in the area of specialized care. This appropriation shall be used, but not limited to, encouraging counties to implement or expand specialized care payment systems, to recruit and train foster parents for the placement of children with specialized care needs, and to develop county systems to encourage the placement of children in family homes. It is the intent of the Legislature that in the use of these funds, federal financial participation shall be claimed whenever possible. (C) (i) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the specialized care increment shall not receive a cost-of-living adjustment in the 2011–12 or 2012–13 fiscal years. (ii) Notwithstanding clause (i), a county may choose to apply a cost-of-living adjustment to its specialized care increment during the 2011–12 or 2012–13 fiscal years. To the extent that a county chooses to apply a cost-of-living adjustment during that time, the state shall not participate in the costs of that adjustment. (iii) To the extent that federal financial participation is available for a cost-of-living adjustment made by a county pursuant to clause (ii), it is the intent of the Legislature that the federal funding shall be utilized. (5) Beginning in the 2011–12 fiscal year, and for each fiscal year thereafter, funding and expenditures for programs and activities under this subdivision shall be in accordance with the requirements provided in Sections 30025 and 30026.5 of the Government Code. (f) (1) As used in this section, “clothing allowance” means the amount paid by a county, at the county’s option, in addition to the rates set forth in subdivisions (g) and (h) for the provision of additional clothing for a child, including, but not limited to, an initial supply of clothing and school or other uniforms. The frequency and level of funding shall be based on the needs of the child, as determined by the county. (2) The state shall no longer participate in any clothing allowance in addition to the basic rate, commencing with the 2011–12 fiscal year. (g) (1) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, for a child, or on and after January 1, 2012, a nonminor dependent, placed in a licensed foster family home or with a resource family, or placed in a tribally approved home as defined in Section 224.1, or placed in an approved home of a relative or the approved home of a nonrelative extended family member as described in Section 362.7, or placed on and after January 1, 2012, in a supervised independent living placement, as defined in subdivision (w) of Section 11400, the per child per month basic rate in the following schedule shall be in effect for the period commencing July 1, 2011, or the date specified in the final order, for which the time to appeal has passed, issued by a court of competent jurisdiction in California State Foster Parent Association v. William Lightbourne, et al. (U.S. Dist. Ct. C 07-08056 WHA), whichever is earlier, through June 30, 2012: Age Basic rate 0–4 $ 609 5–8 $ 660 9–11 $ 695 12–14 $ 727 15–20 $ 761 (2) Commencing July 1, 2011, the basic rate set forth in this subdivision shall be annually adjusted on July 1 by the annual percentage change in the California Necessities Index applicable to the calendar year within which each July 1 occurs. (3) Subdivisions (e) and (f) shall apply to payments made pursuant to this subdivision. (4) (A) (i) For the 2016–17 fiscal year, the department shall develop a basic rate in coordination with the development of the foster family agency rate authorized in Section 11463 that ensures a child placed in a home-based setting described in paragraph (1), and a child placed in a certified family home or with a resource family approved by a foster family agency, is eligible for the same basic rate set forth in this paragraph. (ii) The rates developed pursuant to this paragraph shall not be lower than the rates proposed as part of the Governor’s 2016 May Revision. (iii) Unless the Tiered Rate Structure established in subdivision (h) applies to a child or nonminor dependent, a certified family home of a foster family agency shall be paid the basic rate set forth in this paragraph only through December 31, 2028, or 24 months from the date required under paragraph (9) of subdivision (h), whichever is later. (B) The basic rate paid to either a certified family home or a resource family approved by a foster family agency shall be paid by the agency to the certified family home or resource family from the rate that is paid to the agency pursuant to Section 11463. (C) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the basic rates and the manner in which they are determined shall be set forth in written directives until regulations are adopted. (D) The basic rates set forth in written directives or regulations pursuant to subparagraph (C) shall become inoperative on January 1, 2029, or 24 months from the date required under paragraph (9) of subdivision (h) of this section, whichever is later. (5) (A) (i) Subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act, the rate paid for a nonminor dependent placed in a supervised independent living placement in California, as defined in subdivision (w) of Section 11400, shall be supplemented with a housing supplement, which shall be calculated by the department as the difference between one-half of the federal fiscal year 2023 fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment in the county in which the nonminor resides and 30 percent of the rate established pursuant to paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, of this subdivision. (ii) A nonminor dependent shall not receive a monthly rate less than the rate established pursuant to paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, of this subdivision. (B) The supplement pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall commence on July 1, 2025, or when the department notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS) can perform the necessary automation to implement it, whichever is later. (C) The monthly housing supplement payment made pursuant to this section shall be added to the rate paid to a nonminor dependent placed in a supervised independent living placement and shall be prorated based on the number of days in a month the nonminor dependent was in the placement eligible for the supplement. Notwithstanding Section 11466.24, overpayments shall not be collected on the housing supplement pursuant to this paragraph. (D) The department shall work with the County Welfare Directors Association of California and the CalSAWS to develop and implement the necessary system changes to implement the housing supplement provided pursuant to subparagraph (A). (E) Consistent with the implementation timeline in subparagraph (B), the department shall annually calculate the housing supplement described in this paragraph by November 1 of each year and shall inform the CalSAWS of the amount of the supplement by means of all-county letters or similar written instructions. The department shall annually inform county welfare agencies in the month of July of the following year of the amount of the supplement by means of all-county letters or similar written instructions. (F) For purposes of this paragraph, “fair market rent” means the federal fiscal year 2023 rent calculated for the fair market rent system developed by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for use in determining the allowable rent level for an individual who participates in the Housing Choice Voucher program, including the cost of housing and utilities, except for telephone, cable, and internet, and is calculated for each county by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. (h) Unless otherwise specified by law, and except as provided in paragraphs (6) to (8), inclusive, in accordance with the schedules provided in paragraph (4) and Sections 16562 and 16565, the per child per month rate for every child in foster care shall be based on the Tiered Rate Structure as set forth in this subdivision. (1) The following definitions shall apply for purposes of the Tiered Rate Structure established in this section: (A) “Integrated Practice-Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths” or “IP-CANS” means a validated functional assessment tool that supports decisionmaking and allows for the monitoring of outcomes and services, assesses the well-being of children through the identification of their strengths and needs, and determines their tier as part of the Tiered Rate Structure established in this subdivision. (B) “Tiered Rate Structure” means the framework that establishes a rate structure consisting of three tiers developed by the department based on a statistical analysis of the IP-CANS assessment of California foster children. The tier levels are designed to address the levels of care and needs of the children in each tier regardless of their placement setting. (2) The Tiered Rate Structure shall consist of the following three components: (A) An amount paid to the foster care provider in return for care and supervision, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 11460. (B) Strengths Building Funding to provide for a child’s strengths building objectives, as identified by the IP-CANS, paid pursuant to the Strengths Building Child and Family Determination Program established in Section 16565. (C) Immediate Needs Funding to provide for a child’s immediate needs as identified by the IP-CANS, paid pursuant to the Immediate Needs Program established in Section 16562. (3) As the Care and Supervision component of the Tiered Rate Structure, foster care providers shall be paid a per child per month rate in return for care and supervision, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 11460, excluding paragraphs (1) and (2) of that subdivision, based on the child’s tier established by the results of the child’s IP-CANS assessment, as follows: Tier 1: $1788 Tier 2: $3490 Tier 3: $6296 [Ages 0-5] Tier 3+: $6296 [Ages 6+] (4) The components of the Tiered Rate Structure described in paragraph (2) shall be phased in as follows: (A) (i) For new entries or reentries into foster care, as defined by the department, beginning on the date required by paragraph (9), the components of the Tiered Rate Structure shall be effective on the date on which the IP-CANS assessment is completed and entered into the statewide child welfare information system, as prescribed by Section 16560, or 60 days after the child enters or reenters foster care, whichever comes first. (ii) A rate of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2500) for the Care and Supervision component, as set forth in paragraph (3), shall be paid pending completion and entry into the statewide child welfare information system of the IP-CANS assessment to determine the child’s tier, as prescribed by Section 16560. This rate shall be referred to as the “entry rate.” (iii) Provided all state and federal rate and licensing requirements are met, the entry rate for a child or nonminor dependent placed with a foster family agency or short-term residential therapeutic program shall also include a rate of one thousand six hundred ten dollars ($1,610) for administrative and other activities, as set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 11460. (iv) Beginning July 1, 2028, the entry rate shall be annually adjusted on July 1 by the annual percentage change in the California Necessities Index that applies to the year in which the annual adjustment is made. (v) If the IP-CANS assessment is not completed and entered into the statewide child welfare information system within 60 days of a child’s entry or reentry into foster care, the components of the Tiered Rate Structure shall be effective retroactive to 60 days after the child enters or reenters foster care. (B) For all other children in foster care placement on July 1, 2027, the components of the Tiered Rate Structure as set forth in paragraph (2) shall be paid consistent with the child’s tier as determined by the child’s IP-CANS assessment, pursuant to a schedule to be determined by the department, and developed in collaboration with county placing agencies, tribes, and stakeholders, but in no case later than January 1, 2029, or 24 months from the date required under paragraph (9), whichever is later. (5) Beginning July 1, 2028, and on July 1 of each fiscal year thereafter, the rate set forth in paragraph (3) shall be annually adjusted by the annual percentage change in the California Necessities Index applicable to the calendar year within which each July 1 occurs. (6) Notwithstanding paragraph (3), the following care and supervision rates shall apply in the following settings: (A) The care and supervision rate paid on behalf of a child or nonminor dependent placed in a setting described in subdivision (d) of Section 11402 shall be the rate set forth in Section 11403.3. (B) The rate paid for a nonminor dependent placed in a setting described in subdivision (w) of Section 11400 shall be the rate set forth in paragraphs (4) and (5) of subdivision (g). Beginning July 1, 2027, or on the date required under paragraph (9), whichever is later, the rate paid shall consist of the sum of the following: (i) A rate equivalent to Tier 1 of the care and supervision rate in paragraph (3) inclusive of any annual adjustments described in paragraph (5). (ii) A rate equivalent to Tier 1 of the Strengths Building Funding set forth in paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 16565. (iii) Subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act, the housing supplement described in paragraph (5) of subdivision (g), if applicable. (C) The rate paid on behalf of a child or nonminor dependent placed in a setting described in subdivision (h) of Section 11402 shall be the rate established by the State Department of Developmental Services. (D) Notwithstanding any other law, children and nonminor dependents who are both regional center consumers and recipients of Aid to Families With Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC) or the Approved Relative Caregiver Funding Program (ARC) shall be assessed for the dual agency rate and supplement, if applicable, according to subdivision (c) or (d) of Section 11464 or subdivision (b) of Section 11461.3, as applicable, and shall also be separately assessed for the tiered rate described in paragraph (3), plus any applicable county specialized care increment, and receive the rate that is higher. Notwithstanding the higher applicable rate received, regional centers shall separately purchase or secure services contained in the child’s or nonminor dependent’s Individualized Family Services Plan (IFSP) or Individual Program Plan (IPP) pursuant to Section 4684. (7) Notwithstanding paragraph (3), the Care and Supervision component shall not apply to a child or nonminor dependent placed in a temporary shelter care facility or transitional shelter care facility. (8) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, the Tiered Rate Structure shall not apply to a child whose nonrelated legal guardianship was ordered in probate court pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 1510) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Probate Code. (9) (A) The three components of the Tiered Rate Structure described in paragraph (2) shall become operative on July 1, 2027, or the date after both of the following events have occurred, whichever is later: (i) The department notifies the Legislature that the California Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement the Tiered Rate Structure. (ii) The Legislature makes an appropriation for the express purpose of implementing this subdivision. (B) This paragraph shall not be interpreted to cease or delay any funding or action required to perform the automation or other activities necessary to prepare for the implementation of the Tiered Rate Structure. (10) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this subdivision by means of all-county letters or similar written instructions, which shall be exempt from submission to or review by the Office of Administrative Law. These all-county letters or similar instructions shall have the same force and effect as regulations until the adoption of regulations no later than January 1, 2030. (i) Beginning in the 2011–12 fiscal year, and each fiscal year thereafter, funding and expenditures for programs and activities under this section shall be in accordance with the requirements provided in Sections 30025 and 30026.5 of the Government Code.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11461.1. Section 11461.1.

It is the intent of the Legislature to ensure quality care for children who are placed in foster family homes. Therefore, the State Department of Social Services is directed to work with counties, foster parent associations, representatives of the community colleges, representatives of foster youth organizations, legislative staff members, and other interested parties concerning training requirements, experience, and retention of foster parents and the capacity of foster homes.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11461.3. Section 11461.3.

(a) The Approved Relative Caregiver Funding Program is hereby established for the purpose of making the amount paid to an approved relative caregiver for the in-home care of children and nonminor dependents placed with them who are ineligible for AFDC-FC payments equal to the amount paid on behalf of children and nonminor dependents who are eligible for AFDC-FC payments. (b) Unless the child or nonminor dependent is eligible for a higher dual agency rate and supplement, if applicable, pursuant to Section 11464, the county with payment responsibility shall pay an approved relative caregiver a per child per month rate at the child’s or nonminor dependent’s assessed level of care, as set forth in subdivision (g) of Section 11461 and Section 11463, or on and after the date required by paragraph (9) of subdivision (h) of Section 11461, the rate developed pursuant to the Tiered Rate Structure established in subdivision (h) of Section 11461, as applicable, in return for the care and supervision, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 11460, of the child or nonminor dependent if all of the following conditions are met: (1) The child or nonminor dependent resides in California. (2) The child or nonminor dependent is described by subdivision (b), (c), or (e) of Section 11401 and the county welfare department or the county probation department is responsible for the placement and care of the child or nonminor dependent. (3) The child or nonminor dependent is not eligible for AFDC-FC while placed with the approved relative caregiver because the child or nonminor dependent is not eligible for federal financial participation in the AFDC-FC payment. (c) Subdivision (b) shall not be interpreted to prevent a county from supplementing the payment made to the approved relative caregiver with any county optional program, including, but not limited to, a specialized care increment, as described in subdivision (e) of Section 11461, or a clothing allowance, as described in subdivision (f) of Section 11461. (d) Any income or benefits received by an eligible child or the approved relative caregiver on behalf of the eligible child or nonminor dependent that would be offset against the rate paid to a foster care provider shall be offset from any funds that are not CalWORKs funds paid to the approved relative caregiver pursuant to this section. (e) Counties shall recoup an overpayment in the Approved Relative Caregiver Funding Program received by an approved relative caregiver using the standards and processes for overpayment recoupment that are applicable to overpayments to an approved resource family, as specified in Section 11466.24. Recouped overpayments shall not be subject to remittance to the federal government. Any overpaid funds that are collected by the counties shall be remitted to the state after subtracting both of the following: (1) An amount not to exceed the county share of the CalWORKs portion of the Approved Relative Caregiver Funding Program payment, if any. (2) Any other county funds that were included in the Approved Relative Caregiver Funding Program payment. (f) To the extent permitted by federal law, payments received by the approved relative caregiver from the Approved Relative Caregiver Funding Program shall not be considered income for the purpose of determining other public benefits. (g) Prior to referral of any individual or recipient, or that person’s case, to the local child support agency for child support services pursuant to Section 17415 of the Family Code, the county human services agency shall determine if an applicant or recipient has good cause for noncooperation, as set forth in Section 11477.04. If the applicant or recipient claims good cause exception at any subsequent time to the county human services agency or the local child support agency, the local child support agency shall suspend child support services until the county social services agency determines the good cause claim, as set forth in Section 11477.04. If good cause is determined to exist, the local child support agency shall suspend child support services until the applicant or recipient requests their resumption, and shall take other measures that are necessary to protect the applicant or recipient and the children. If the applicant or recipient is the parent of the child for whom aid is sought and the parent is found to have not cooperated without good cause as provided in Section 11477.04, the applicant’s or recipient’s family grant shall be reduced by 25 percent for the time the failure to cooperate lasts. (h) Consistent with Section 17552 of the Family Code, if aid is paid under this chapter on behalf of a child who is under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court and whose parent or guardian is receiving reunification services, the county human services agency shall determine, prior to referral of the case to the local child support agency for child support services, whether the referral is in the best interest of the child, taking into account both of the following: (1) Whether the payment of support by the parent will pose a barrier to the proposed reunification in that the payment of support will compromise the parent’s ability to meet the requirements of the parent’s reunification plan. (2) Whether the payment of support by the parent will pose a barrier to the proposed reunification in that the payment of support will compromise the parent’s current or future ability to meet the financial needs of the child. (i) For purposes of this section, an “approved relative caregiver” includes a relative, as defined by paragraph (2) of subdivision (h) of Section 319, who has been approved as a resource family pursuant to Section 16519.5. (j) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (b) and effective the first of the month following the date the department issues comprehensive policy, fiscal, and claiming instructions that will enable counties to implement this subdivision pending the establishment of a new aid code, if needed, a child or nonminor dependent placed out of state in the home of a relative shall be eligible for payment pursuant to this section under the following conditions: (A) The home of the relative is licensed or approved consistent with the requirements of the state in which the home is located. (B) The child is described by paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (b). (C) All other eligibility conditions are met. (2) Payments made pursuant to this section shall be equal to, but not exceed, the foster care rate set by the rate-setting authority of the state in which the home is located, subject to any offset required pursuant to subdivision (d). (k) The department shall adopt emergency regulations implementing this section no later than January 1, 2023. The department may readopt any emergency regulation authorized by this section that is the same as, or substantially equivalent to, any emergency regulation previously adopted pursuant to this section. The initial adoption of regulations pursuant to this section and one readoption of emergency regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or general welfare. Initial emergency regulations and one readoption of emergency regulations authorized by this section shall be exempt from review by the Office of Administrative Law. The initial emergency regulations and the one readoption of emergency regulations authorized by this section shall be submitted to the Office of Administrative Law for filing with the Secretary of State, and each shall remain in effect for no more than 180 days, by which time final regulations shall be adopted. ( l ) Notwithstanding any other law, when the placement of a child with a relative, as defined by paragraph (2) of subdivision (h) of Section 319, has been authorized by the juvenile court and the placement is ineligible for both emergency caregiver funding pursuant to Section 11461.36 and AFDC-FC due to the denial of resource family approval, the placement shall be funded pursuant to the provisions of this section.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11461.4. Section 11461.4.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a tribe that has entered into an agreement pursuant to Section 10553.1 may elect to participate in the Tribal Approved Relative Caregiver Funding Program. (b) (1) In return for the care and supervision of a child placed with an approved relative caregiver, a participating tribe shall pay the approved relative caregiver a per child per month rate that, when added to the tribal Temporary Aid to Needy Families (tribal TANF) benefit received by the approved relative caregiver on behalf of the child, shall equal the rate established for the child’s assessed level of care, as set forth in subdivision (g) of Section 11461 and in Section 11463, or, on and after the date required by paragraph (9) of subdivision (h) of Section 11461, the rate developed pursuant to the Tiered Rate Structure, as established in subdivision (h) of Section 11461, as applicable. (2) Payments made pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be made only if all of the following conditions exist: (A) The tribe has notified the department in writing of its decision to participate in the program, consistent with subdivision (c). (B) The child has been removed from the parent or guardian and has been placed into the placement and care responsibility of the tribal child welfare agency pursuant to a voluntary placement agreement or by the tribal court, consistent with the tribe’s Title IV-E agreement. (C) The child resides within California. (D) The caregiver is receiving tribal TANF payments, or an application for tribal TANF has been made, on behalf of the child. (E) The child is not eligible for AFDC-FC while placed with the approved relative caregiver because the child is not eligible for federal financial participation in the AFDC-FC payment. (3) Any income or benefits received by an eligible child, or by the approved relative caregiver on behalf of an eligible child, which would be offset against a payment made to a foster care provider, shall be offset from the amount paid by the tribe under the program. This paragraph shall not apply to any tribal TANF payments received on behalf of an eligible child. (4) An approved relative caregiver receiving payments on behalf of a child pursuant to this section shall not be eligible to receive CalWORKs payments on behalf of the same child under Section 11450. (5) To the extent permitted by federal law, payments received by the approved relative caregiver from the program shall not be considered income for the purpose of determining other public benefits. (6) Paragraph (1) shall not be interpreted to prevent any participating tribe from supplementing the payment made to the approved relative caregiver with any tribal optional program, including, but not limited to, a specialized care increment or a clothing allowance. (c) A tribe electing to participate in the program shall notify the department of that fact in writing at least 60 days prior to the date the tribe will begin participation. As a condition of participation, the tribe shall do all of the following: (1) Provide to the department the tribal TANF maximum aid payment (MAP) rate in effect at the time that the tribe elects to participate in the program, consistent with the tribe’s approved tribal TANF plan. (2) Agree to recoup overpayments to an approved relative caregiver utilizing the standards for determining whether an overpayment is recoupable, and the processes for overpayment recoupment, that are applicable to overpayments as described in the tribe’s Title IV-E agreement entered into pursuant to Section 10553.1. (3) Agree to make child support referrals for program cases, consistent with processes applied by the tribe to Title IV-E program cases. (d) The following funding shall be used for the program: (1) The tribe’s applicable per-child tribal TANF grant. (2) General Fund resources specified in the annual Budget Act. (e) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (1) “Program” means the Tribal Approved Relative Caregiver Funding Program established in this section. (2) “Relative” means an adult who is related to the child by blood, adoption, or affinity within the fifth degree of kinship, including stepparents, stepsiblings, and all relatives whose status is preceded by the words “great,” “great-great,” or “grand,” or the spouse of any of these persons even if the marriage was terminated by death or dissolution, or as otherwise established consistent with the tribe’s Title IV-E agreement. (3) “Tribe” means a federally-recognized Indian tribe, consortium of tribes, or tribal organization with an agreement pursuant to Section 10553.1.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11461.5. Section 11461.5.

(a) The department may establish a rate to supplement the basic rate specified in subdivision (a) of Section 11461 for the provision of additional shelter needs for AFDC-FC children who are placed in out-of-home care with their siblings. (b) The department shall develop regulations for the rate specified in subdivision (a). (c) The department shall amend the state plan to receive appropriate funding from the federal government, for implementation of this section, under Title IV-E of the federal Social Security Act, Part E (commencing with Section 670) of Subchapter 4 of Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the United States Code. The plan amendment shall be submitted within 90 days of notification that federal funds are available for the purposes of this section. (d) Subdivisions (a) and (b) shall be implemented only if, and upon the date that, the director executes a declaration, that shall be retained by the director, stating that the director has determined that the federal government has approved the state plan amendments required by subdivision (c), and federal funding in accordance with those state plan amendments becomes available.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11461.6. Section 11461.6.

(a) The Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children is hereby established, to be implemented at the discretion of each county, for the purpose of stabilizing foster children with families at the time of placement by providing a time-limited payment or voucher for childcare following the child’s placement, or for a child whose parent is in foster care, and by providing the family with a childcare navigator to assist the family in accessing long-term subsidized childcare. (b) The Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children shall be administered by county welfare departments that choose to participate in the program. (c) (1) As determined by the county welfare department, and consistent with guidance issued by the State Department of Social Services, counties may establish local priorities and may either provide payment directly to the family or childcare provider, or contract with a local alternative payment program to distribute vouchers for childcare. (2) If the market rate survey is used to set reimbursement rates, counties that elect to provide payment directly to a family or childcare provider shall pay commensurate with the regional market rates, as described in Section 10374.5. (3) The market rate survey is used to set reimbursement rates, counties that elect to contract with a local alternative payment agency, as described in Section 10225, to distribute childcare vouchers, the vouchers shall be in an amount commensurate with the regional market rates, as described in Section 10374.5, and the contract shall not displace, or result in the reduction of, an existing contract with a current local alternative payment program. (d) (1) Participating county welfare departments shall determine eligibility of a child for the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children using the criteria outlined in paragraphs (2) and (3). (2) Family placements eligible to receive payment or a voucher for childcare include both of the following: (A) Approved resource families, as described in Section 16519.5 of this code and Section 1517 of the Health and Safety Code, and families that have a child placed with them in an emergency or for a compelling reason, as described in Section 16519.5. (B) Parents under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, including, but not limited to, nonminor dependent parents. (3) A participating county welfare department may provide a payment or voucher if work or school responsibilities preclude resource families from providing care when the child for whom they have care and responsibility is not in school or for periods when the family, as described in paragraph (2), is required to participate, without the child, in activities associated with parenting a child that are beyond the scope of ordinary parental duties, including, but not limited to, attendance at administrative or judicial reviews, case conferences, and family training. (e) Each child receiving a monthly childcare payment or voucher shall be provided with a childcare navigator, pursuant to paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 10219, who shall work directly with the child’s family, social worker, and the child and family team to assist in accessing childcare at the time of placement as well as long-term, subsidized childcare for the child, as necessary. (f) Each child receiving a monthly childcare payment or voucher shall be eligible to receive the payment or voucher for up to six months. If the child and family access long-term, subsidized childcare prior to the end of the six-month period covered by the payment or voucher, eligibility for the monthly payment or voucher shall terminate upon enrollment in long-term, subsidized childcare. (g) (1) Eligibility for the monthly payment or voucher may be extended beyond the initial six-month period for an additional six-month period, not to exceed 12 months in total, at the discretion of the county welfare department, if the child and family have been unable to access long-term, subsidized childcare during the initial six-month period. (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the county welfare department may extend eligibility for the monthly payment or voucher beyond 12 months based on a compelling reason that may include, but is not limited to, the inability of the foster child to successfully transition to other subsidized childcare, the loss of the payment or voucher would jeopardize a successful reunification or permanency plan, or other reasons authorized pursuant to guidance issued by the department, with input from stakeholders. This paragraph shall become operative September 1, 2022. (h) The department shall seek all federal approvals necessary to claim federal reimbursement under Title IV-E of the federal Social Security Act in order to maximize state and local funding for childcare. (i) This section shall not be interpreted to create an entitlement to a childcare payment or voucher. (j) The program established pursuant to this section is intended to complement county child welfare agency efforts to recruit, retain, and support resource families as described in Section 16003.5, and any funding provided to counties pursuant to this section shall supplement those county activities to support the goals of Chapter 773 of the Statutes of 2015 and Chapter 612 of the Statutes of 2016.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11461.36. Section 11461.36.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide support to emergency caregivers, as defined in subdivision (c), who care for children and nonminor dependents before approval of an application under the Resource Family Approval Program or a tribally approved home. (b) For placements made on and after July 1, 2018, each county shall provide a payment equivalent to the resource family basic level rate of the home-based family care rate structure, pursuant to Section 11463, to an emergency caregiver on behalf of a child or nonminor dependent placed in the home of the caregiver pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 309, Section 361.45, Section 727.05, or clause (i) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (h) of Section 319, or based on a compelling reason pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 16519.5, subject to the availability of state and federal funds pursuant to subdivision (e), if all of the following criteria are met: (1) The child or nonminor dependent is not otherwise eligible for AFDC-FC or the Approved Relative Caregiver Funding Program, pursuant to Section 11461.3, while placed in the home of the emergency caregiver. (2) The child or nonminor dependent resides in California. (3) The emergency caregiver has signed and submitted to the county an application for resource family approval or has initiated a tribally approved home process. (4) An application for the Emergency Assistance Program has been completed. (c) For purposes of this section, an “emergency caregiver” means an individual who has a pending resource family application filed with an appropriate agency on or after July 1, 2018, and who meets one of the following requirements: (1) The individual has been assessed pursuant to Section 361.4. (2) The individual has successfully completed the home environment assessment portion of the resource family approval pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 16519.5. (d) The beginning date of aid for payments made pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be the date of placement. (e) Funding for payments made pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be as follows: (1) For emergency or compelling reason placements made during the 2018–19 fiscal year: (A) Payments shall be made to an emergency caregiver through the Emergency Assistance Program included in the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant. (B) The county shall be solely responsible for the nonfederal share of cost. (C) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) and (B), if the child or nonminor dependent is determined to be ineligible for the Emergency Assistance Program included in the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant, 70 percent of the cost of emergency payments made to the emergency caregiver shall be funded by the department and 30 percent shall be funded by the county. (D) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), payments required to be provided pursuant to subdivision (b) shall not be eligible for the federal or state share of cost upon approval or denial of the resource family application, consistent with subdivision (g), beyond 180 days, or, if the conditions of subparagraph (E) are met, beyond 365 days, whichever occurs first. (E) The federal and state share of payment made pursuant to this paragraph shall be available beyond 180 days of payments, and up to 365 days of payments, if all of the following conditions are met: (i) On a monthly basis, the county has documented good cause for the delay in approving the resource family application that is outside the direct control of the county, which may include delays in processing background check clearances or exemptions, medical examinations, or delays that are based on the needs of the family. (ii) On a monthly basis, the deputy director or director of the county child welfare department, or their designee, has been notified of the delay in approving the resource family application and that notification is documented in the resource family approval file. (iii) On a monthly basis, the county provides to the department a list of the resource family applications that have been pending for more than 90 days and the reason for the delays. (2) For emergency or compelling reason placements made during the 2019–20 fiscal year: (A) Payments shall be made to an emergency caregiver through the Emergency Assistance Program included in the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant. (B) The county shall be solely responsible for the nonfederal share of cost. (C) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) and (B), if the child or nonminor dependent is determined to be ineligible for the Emergency Assistance Program included in the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant, 70 percent of the cost of emergency payments made to the emergency caregiver shall be funded by the department and 30 percent shall be funded by the county. (D) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), payments required to be provided pursuant to subdivision (b) shall not be eligible for the federal or state share of cost upon approval or denial of the resource family application, consistent with subdivision (g), or beyond 120 days, whichever occurs first. (E) The federal and state share of payment made pursuant to this paragraph shall be available beyond 120 days of payments, and up to 365 days of payments, if all of the following conditions are met: (i) On a monthly basis, the county has documented good cause for the delay in approving the resource family application that is outside the direct control of the county, which may include delays in processing background check clearances or exemptions, medical examinations, or delays that are based on the needs of the family. (ii) On a monthly basis, the deputy director or director of the county child welfare department, or their designee, or the chief probation officer, or their designee, as applicable, has been notified of the delay in approving the resource family application and that notification is documented in the resource family approval file. (iii) On a monthly basis, the county provides to the department a list of the resource family applications that have been pending for more than 120 days and the reason for the delays. (3) For emergency or compelling reason placements made during the 2020–21 fiscal year: (A) Payments shall be made to an emergency caregiver through the Emergency Assistance Program included in the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant. (B) The county shall be solely responsible for the nonfederal share of cost. (C) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) and (B), if the child or nonminor dependent is determined to be ineligible for the Emergency Assistance Program included in the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant, 70 percent of the cost of emergency payments made to the emergency caregiver shall be funded by the department and 30 percent shall be funded by the county. (D) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), payments required to be provided pursuant to subdivision (b) shall not be eligible for the federal or state share of cost upon approval or denial of the resource family application, consistent with subdivision (g), or beyond 120 days, whichever occurs first. (E) The federal and state share of payment made pursuant to this paragraph shall be available beyond 120 days of payments, and up to 365 days of payments, if all of the following conditions are met: (i) On a monthly basis, the county has documented good cause for delay in approving the resource family application that is outside the direct control of the county, which may include delays in processing background check clearances or exemptions, medical examinations, or delays that are based on the needs of the family. (ii) On a monthly basis, the deputy director or director of the county child welfare department, or their designees, or the chief probation officer, or their designee, as applicable, has been notified of the delay in approving the resource family application and that notification is documented in the resource family approval file. (iii) On a monthly basis, the county provides to the department a list of the resource family applications that have been pending for more than 120 days and the reasons for the delays. (F) The 365-day payment limitation pursuant to subparagraph (E) and accompanying rules and regulations is suspended through June 30, 2021, subject to guidance from the State Department of Social Services. (4) For emergency or compelling reason placements made during the 2021–22 fiscal year: (A) Payments shall be made to an emergency caregiver through the Emergency Assistance Program included in the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant. (B) The county shall be solely responsible for the nonfederal share of cost. (C) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) and (B), if the child or nonminor dependent is determined to be ineligible for the Emergency Assistance Program included in the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant, 70 percent of the cost of emergency payments made to the emergency caregiver shall be funded by the department and 30 percent shall be funded by the county. (D) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), payments required to be provided pursuant to subdivision (b) shall not be eligible for the federal or state share of cost upon approval or denial of the resource family application, consistent with subdivision (g), or beyond 120 days, whichever occurs first. (E) Notwithstanding subparagraph (D), the federal and state share of payment made pursuant to this paragraph shall be available beyond 120 days of payments, and up to 365 days of payments, if all of the following conditions are met: (i) On a monthly basis, the county has documented good cause for delay in approving the resource family application that is outside the direct control of the county, which may include delays in processing background check clearances or exemptions, medical examinations, or delays that are based on the needs of the family. (ii) On a monthly basis, the deputy director or director of the county child welfare department, or their designees, or the chief probation officer, or their designee, as applicable, has been notified of the delay in approving the resource family application and that notification is documented in the resource family approval file. (iii) On a monthly basis, the county provides to the department a list of the resource family applications that have been pending for more than 120 days and the reasons for the delays. (5) For emergency or compelling reason placements made during the 2022–23 fiscal year, and each fiscal year thereafter: (A) Payments shall be made to an emergency caregiver through the Emergency Assistance Program included in the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant. (B) The county shall be solely responsible for the nonfederal share of cost. (C) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) and (B), if the child or nonminor dependent is determined to be ineligible for the Emergency Assistance Program included in the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant, 70 percent of the cost of the emergency payments made to the emergency caregiver shall be funded by the department and 30 percent shall be funded by the county. (D) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), payments required to be provided pursuant to subdivision (b) shall not be eligible for the federal or state share of cost upon approval or denial of the resource family application, consistent with subdivision (g), or beyond 120 days, whichever occurs first. (E) Notwithstanding subparagraph (D), the federal and state share of payment made pursuant to this paragraph shall be available beyond 120 days of payments, and up to 365 days of payments, if all of the following conditions are met: (i) On a monthly basis, the county has documented good cause for delay in approving the resource family application that is outside the direct control of the county due to processing background check clearances or exemptions or medical examinations, delays in home or grounds improvements that are outside the control of the family or county, completion of specialized or individualized training required of the family that are beyond the basic resource family approval requirements, delays related to changes in the home environment resulting in the need for a new assessment, delays related to the time commitments required of the caregiver as a result of the child’s placement into foster care, delays as a result of the applicant exercising due process rights, or delays that are based on the needs of the family. (ii) On a monthly basis, the deputy director or director of the county child welfare department, or their designees, or the chief probation officer, or their designee, as applicable, has been notified of the delay in approving the resource family application and that notification is documented in the resource family approval file. (iii) On a monthly basis, the county provides to the department a list of the resource family applications that have been pending for more than 120 days, the reasons for the delays, and documentation supporting the good cause determination. (f) On and after the date required by paragraph (9) of subdivision (h) of Section 11461, and notwithstanding the rate described in subdivisions (b) and ( l ), the rate paid to an emergency caregiver on behalf of a child or nonminor dependent placed with the emergency caregiver shall be equivalent to, and paid in the same manner as, the rate developed pursuant to the Tiered Rate Structure, as established in paragraph (4) of subdivision (h) of Section 11461. (g) (1) If the application for resource family approval is approved, the funding source for the placement shall be changed to AFDC-FC or the Approved Relative Caregiver Funding Program, as appropriate and consistent with existing eligibility requirements. (2) If the application for resource family approval is denied, eligibility for funding pursuant to this section shall be terminated. (h) A county shall not be liable for any federal disallowance or penalty imposed on the state as a result of a county’s action in reliance on the state’s instruction related to implementation of this section. (i) (1) For the 2018–19 and 2019–20 fiscal years, the department shall determine, on a county-by-county basis, whether the timeframe for the resource family approval process resulted in net assistance costs or net assistance savings for assistance payments, pursuant to this section. (2) For the 2018–19 and 2019–20 fiscal years, the department shall also consider, on a county-by-county basis, the impact to the receipt of federal Title IV-E funding that may result from implementation of this section. (3) The department shall work with the California State Association of Counties to jointly determine the timeframe for subsequent reviews of county costs and savings beyond the 2019–20 fiscal year. (j) (1) The department shall monitor the implementation of this section, including, but not limited to, tracking the usage and duration of Emergency Assistance Program payments made pursuant to this section and evaluating the duration of time a child or nonminor dependent is in a home pending resource family approval. (2) The department may request information or data necessary to oversee the implementation of this section until data collection is available through automation. Pending the completion of automation, information or data collected manually shall be determined in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association of California. (k) An appropriation shall not be made pursuant to Section 15200 for purposes of implementing this section. ( l ) (1) On and after July 1, 2019, each county shall provide a payment equivalent to the resource family basic level rate of the home-based family care rate structure, pursuant to Section 11463, on behalf of an Indian child, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 224.1, placed in the home of the caregiver who is pending approval as a tribally approved home, as defined in subdivision (r) of Section 224.1, if all of the following criteria are met: (A) The placement is made pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 309, Section 361.45, Section 727.05, or clause (i) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (h) of Section 319. (B) The caregiver has been assessed pursuant to Section 361.4. (C) The child is not otherwise eligible for AFDC-FC or the Approved Relative Caregiver Funding Program, pursuant to Section 11461.3, while placed in the home of the caregiver. (D) The child resides in California. (E) The tribe or tribal agency has initiated the process for the home to become tribally approved. (F) An application for the Emergency Assistance Program has been completed by the placing agency. (2) The beginning date of aid for payments made pursuant to this subdivision shall be the date of placement. (3) The funding source for the placement shall be changed to AFDC-FC or the Approved Relative Caregiver Funding Program, as appropriate and consistent with existing eligibility requirements, when the caregiver is approved as a tribally approved home. If the approval is denied, payments made pursuant to this subdivision shall cease. (4) Subdivision (e) and subdivisions (h) to (k), inclusive, shall apply to payments made pursuant to this subdivision. (m) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the department may implement and administer this section through an all-county letter or similar instructions, which shall include instructions regarding the eligibility standards for emergency assistance until regulations are adopted.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11462. Section 11462.

(a) The department shall commence development of a new payment structure for short-term residential therapeutic program placements claiming Title IV-E funding, in consultation with county placing agencies and providers. (b) The department shall develop a rate system that includes consideration of all of the following factors: (1) Core services, made available to children and nonminor dependents either directly or secured through formal agreements with other agencies, which are trauma informed and culturally relevant and include: (A) Specialty mental health services for children who meet medical necessity criteria for specialty mental health services under the Medi-Cal Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment program. (B) Transition support services for children, youth, and families upon initial entry and placement changes and for families who assume permanency through reunification, adoption, or guardianship. (C) Educational and physical, behavioral, and mental health supports, including extracurricular activities and social supports. (D) Activities designed to support transition-age youth and nonminor dependents in achieving a successful adulthood. (E) Services to achieve permanency, including supporting efforts to reunify or achieve adoption or guardianship and efforts to maintain or establish relationships with parents, siblings, extended family members, tribes, or others important to the child or youth, as appropriate. (F) When serving Indian children, as defined in subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 224.1, the core services described in subparagraphs (A) to (E), inclusive, which shall be provided to eligible children consistent with active efforts pursuant to Section 361.7. (G) (i) Facilitating the identification and, as needed, the approval of resource families pursuant to Section 16519.5, for the purpose of transitioning children and youth to family-based care. (ii) If a short-term residential therapeutic program elects to approve and monitor resource families directly, the program shall comply with all laws applicable to foster family agencies, including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Community Care Facilities Act (Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1500) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code). (iii) For short-term residential therapeutic programs that elect to approve and monitor resource families directly, the department shall have all the same duties and responsibilities as those programs have for licensed foster family agencies, as set forth in applicable law, including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Community Care Facilities Act (Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1500) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code). (2) The core services specified in subparagraphs (A) to (G), inclusive, of paragraph (1) are not intended to duplicate services already available to foster children in the community, but to support access to those services and supports to the extent they are already available. Those services and supports may include, but are not limited to, foster youth services available through county offices of education, Indian Health Services, or school-based extracurricular activities. (3) Specialized and intensive treatment supports that encompass the elements of nonmedical care and supervision necessary to meet a child’s or youth’s safety and other needs that cannot be met in a family-based setting. (4) Staff training. (5) Health and Safety Code requirements. (6) Accreditation that includes: (A) Provision for all licensed short-term residential therapeutic programs to obtain and maintain in good standing accreditation from a nationally recognized accreditation agency, as identified by the department, with expertise in programs for children or youth group care facilities, as determined by the department. (B) Promulgation by the department of information identifying that agency or agencies from which accreditation shall be required. (C) Provision for timely reporting to the department of any change in accreditation status. (D) Provision for reduction or revocation of the rate in the event of the suspension, lapse, revocation, or other loss of accreditation, or failure to provide proof of that accreditation to the department upon request. (7) Mental health certification, including a requirement to timely report to the department any change in mental health certificate status. (8) Maximization of federal financial participation under Title IV-E and Title XIX of the Social Security Act. (c) The department shall establish rates pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b) commencing January 1, 2017. The rate structure shall include an interim rate, a provisional rate for new short-term residential therapeutic programs, and a probationary rate. The department may issue a one-time reimbursement for accreditation fees incurred after August 1, 2016, in an amount and manner determined by the department in written directives. (1) (A) Unless the Tiered Rate Structure established in subdivision (h) of Section 11461 applies to a child or nonminor dependent, initial interim rates developed pursuant to this section shall be effective January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2028, inclusive, or 24 months from the date required by paragraph (9) of subdivision (h) of Section 11461, whichever is later. (B) The initial interim rates developed pursuant to this paragraph shall not be lower than the rates proposed as part of the Governor’s 2016 May Revision. (C) The initial interim rates set forth in written directives or regulations pursuant to paragraph (3) shall become inoperative on January 1, 2029, inclusive, or 24 months after the date required by paragraph (9) of subdivision (h) of Section 11461, whichever is later. (2) Consistent with Section 11466.01, for provisional and probationary rates, the following shall be established: (A) Terms and conditions, including the duration of the rate. (B) An administrative review process for rate determinations, including denials, reductions, and terminations. (C) An administrative review process that includes a departmental review, corrective action, and a protest with the department. Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), this process shall be disseminated by written directive pending the promulgation of regulations. (3) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the initial interim rates, provisional rates, and probationary rates and the manner in which they are determined shall be set forth in written directives until regulations are adopted. (d) The department shall develop a system of governmental monitoring and oversight that shall be carried out in coordination with the State Department of Health Care Services. Oversight responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to, ensuring conformity with federal and state law, including program, fiscal, and health and safety audits and reviews. The state agencies shall attempt to minimize duplicative audits and reviews to reduce the administrative burden on providers. (e) (1) Notwithstanding the rates established pursuant to subdivisions (a) to (c), inclusive, the care and supervision rate paid on behalf of a child or nonminor dependent placed in a short-term residential therapeutic program on or after the date required by paragraph (9) of subdivision (h) of Section 11461 shall be based on the Tiered Rate Structure established in subdivision (h) of Section 11461. (2) Provided all federal and state rate and licensing requirements are met, the per child per month care and supervision rate, as set forth in paragraph (3) of subdivision (h) of Section 11461, for a child or nonminor dependent placed in a short-term residential therapeutic program shall include a rate, according to the child’s or nonminor dependent’s tier, as determined by the child’s or nonminor dependent’s periodic IP-CANS assessment, for administrative and other activities described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 11460, according to the following tiered schedule: Tier 1: $1610 Tier 2: $2634 Tier 3: $2634 [Ages 0-5] Tier 3+: $7213 [Ages 6+] (3) Beginning July 1, 2028, and on July 1 of each fiscal year thereafter, the rate set forth in paragraph (2), shall be adjusted by the annual percentage change in the California Necessities Index applicable to the calendar year within which each July 1 occurs. (4) In addition to the care and supervision rate, provided a short-term residential therapeutic program is certified by the department as an immediate needs provider, a presumption exists that the placing agency will contract with the short-term therapeutic residential program to provide services and supports using the Immediate Needs Funding for a child who is eligible for the Immediate Needs Program established in Section 16562, and who is placed in the short-term residential therapeutic residential program, unless the placing agency determines it is in the best interest of the child to receive services and supports from another certified Immediate Needs Provider. (5) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this subdivision by means of all-county letters or similar written instructions, which shall be exempt from submission to or review by the Office of Administrative Law. These all-county letters or similar instructions shall have the same force and effect as regulations until the adoption of regulations no later than January 1, 2030.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11462.01. Section 11462.01.

(a) (1) If a program will admit Medi-Cal beneficiaries, no later than 12 months following the date of initial licensure, a short-term residential therapeutic program, as defined in subdivision (ad) of Section 11400 of this code and paragraph (18) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code, shall obtain a contract, subject to an agreement on rates and terms and conditions, with a county mental health plan to provide specialty mental health services and demonstrate the ability to meet the therapeutic needs of each child, as identified in any of the following: (A) A mental health assessment. (B) The child’s case plan. (C) The child’s needs and services plan. (D) The assessment of a qualified individual, as defined in subdivision (l) of Section 16501. (E) Other documentation demonstrating the child has a mental health need. (2) A short-term residential therapeutic program shall comply with any other mental health program approvals required by the State Department of Health Care Services or by a county mental health plan to which mental health program approval authority has been delegated. (b) A short-term residential therapeutic program, except as specified in subdivision (c), may accept for placement a child who meets both of the criteria in paragraphs (1) and (2) and at least one of the conditions in paragraph (3). (1) The child does not require inpatient care in a licensed health facility. (2) The child has been assessed as requiring the level of services provided in a short-term residential therapeutic program in order to maintain the safety and well-being of the child or others due to behaviors, including those resulting from traumas, that render the child or those around the child unsafe or at risk of harm, or that prevent the effective delivery of needed services and supports provided in the child’s own home or in other family settings, such as with a relative, guardian, foster family, resource family, or adoptive family. The assessment shall ensure the child has needs in common with other children or youth in the care of the facility, consistent with subdivision (c) of Section 16514. (3) The child meets at least one of the following conditions: (A) The child has been assessed, pursuant to Section 4096, as meeting the medical necessity criteria for Medi-Cal specialty mental health services, as provided for in Section 1830.205 or 1830.210 of Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations. (B) The child has been assessed, pursuant to Section 4096, as seriously emotionally disturbed, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3. (C) The child requires emergency placement pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (h). (D) The child has been assessed, pursuant to Section 4096, as requiring the level of services provided by the short-term residential therapeutic program in order to meet the child’s behavioral or therapeutic needs. (4) Subject to the requirements of this subdivision, a short-term residential therapeutic program may have a specialized program to serve a child, including, but not limited to, the following: (A) A commercially sexually exploited child. (B) A private voluntary placement, if the youth exhibits status offender behavior, the parents or other relatives feel they cannot control the child’s behavior, and short-term intervention is needed to transition the child back into the home. (C) A juvenile sex offender. (D) A child who is affiliated with, or impacted by, a gang. (c) (1) A short-term residential therapeutic program that is operating as a children’s crisis residential program, as defined in Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code, may accept for admission any child who meets all of the requirements set forth in paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 11462.011 and subdivisions (a) to (e), inclusive, of Section 4096. (2) The primary function of a children’s crisis residential program is to provide short-term crisis stabilization, therapeutic intervention, and specialized programming in an unlocked, staff-secured setting with a high degree of supervision and structure and the goal of supporting the rapid and successful transition of the child back to the community. (d) A foster family agency that is certified as a Medi-Cal specialty mental health provider pursuant to Section 1810.435 of Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations by the State Department of Health Care Services, or by a county mental health plan to which the department has delegated certification authority, and which has entered into a contract with a county mental health plan pursuant to Section 1810.436 of Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations, shall provide, or provide access to, specialty mental health services to children under its care who do not require inpatient care in a licensed health facility and who meet the medical necessity criteria for Medi-Cal specialty mental health services provided for in Section 1830.205 or 1830.210 of Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations. (e) A foster family agency that is not certified as a Medi-Cal specialty mental health provider shall provide access to specialty and mental health services and other services in that program for children who do not require inpatient care in a licensed health facility and who meet any of the conditions in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b). In this situation, the foster family agency shall do the following: (1) In the case of a child who is a Medi-Cal beneficiary, arrange for specialty mental health services from the county mental health plan. (2) In all other cases, arrange for the child to receive mental health services. (f) All short-term residential therapeutic programs shall maintain the level of care and services necessary to meet the needs, including the assessed needs and child-specific goals identified by a qualified individual pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 4096, as applicable, of the children and youth in their care and shall maintain and have in good standing the appropriate mental health program approval. If a program will admit Medi-Cal beneficiaries, the short-term residential therapeutic program shall obtain a certification to provide Medi-Cal specialty mental health services issued by the State Department of Health Care Services or a county mental health plan to which the department has delegated mental health program approval authority, pursuant to Section 4096.5 of this code or Section 1810.435 or 1810.436 of Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations. All foster family agencies that are certified as a Medi-Cal specialty mental health provider pursuant to Section 1810.435 of Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations shall maintain the level of care and services necessary to meet the needs of children and youth in their care and shall maintain and have in good standing the Medi-Cal specialty mental health provider certification issued by the State Department of Health Care Services or a county mental health plan to which the department has delegated certification authority. (g) The assessments described in subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) shall ensure the child’s individual behavioral or treatment needs are consistent with, and can be met by, the facility and shall be made by one of the following, as applicable: (1) An interagency placement committee, as described in Section 4096, considering the recommendations from the child and family team. If the short-term residential therapeutic program serves children who are placed by county child welfare agencies and children who are placed by probation departments, the interagency placement committee shall also ensure the requirements of subdivision (c) of Section 16514 have been met with respect to commonality of need. (2) A licensed mental health professional as defined in subdivision (j) of Section 4096. (3) An individualized education program team. For the purposes of this section, an AFDC-FC funded child with an individualized education program developed pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 56320) of Chapter 4 of Part 30 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code that assesses the child as seriously emotionally disturbed, as defined in, and subject to, this section and recommends out-of-home placement at the level of care provided by the provider, shall be deemed to have met the assessment requirement. (4) A qualified individual, as defined in subdivision (l) of Section 16501. (h) (1) The short-term residential therapeutic program shall maintain documentation of the assessments required pursuant to Section 4096 for AFDC-FC funded children, except as provided for in paragraph (3) of subdivision (g). The short-term residential therapeutic program shall inform the department if the county placing agency does not provide the documentation. (2) The approval shall be in writing and shall indicate that the interagency placement committee has determined one of the following: (A) The child meets the medical necessity criteria for Medi-Cal specialty mental health services, as provided for in Section 1830.205 or 1830.210 of Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations. (B) The child is seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3. (3) (A) Nothing in subdivisions (a) to (g), inclusive, or this subdivision shall prevent an emergency placement of a child or youth into a certified short-term residential therapeutic program prior to the determination by the interagency placement committee, but only if a licensed mental health professional, as defined in subdivision (j) of Section 4096, has made a written determination within 72 hours of the child’s or youth’s placement, that the child or youth requires the level of services and supervision provided by the short-term residential therapeutic program in order to meet their behavioral or therapeutic needs. If the short-term residential therapeutic program serves children placed by county child welfare agencies and children placed by probation departments, the interagency placement committee shall also ensure the requirements of subdivision (c) of Section 16514 have been met with respect to commonality of need. (i) The interagency placement committee, as appropriate, shall, within 30 days of placement, make the determinations, with recommendations from the child and family team, required by this subdivision. (ii) If it determines the placement is appropriate, the interagency placement committee, with recommendations from the child and family team, shall transmit the approval, in writing, to the county placing agency and the short-term residential therapeutic program. (iii) If it determines the placement is not appropriate, the interagency placement committee shall respond pursuant to subparagraph (B). (B) (i) If the interagency placement committee determines at any time that the placement is not appropriate, it shall, with recommendations from the child and family team, transmit the disapproval, in writing, to the county placing agency and the short-term residential therapeutic program and shall include a recommendation as to the child’s appropriate level of care and placement to meet the child’s service needs. The necessary interagency placement committee representative or representatives shall participate in any child and family team meetings to refer the child or youth to an appropriate placement, as specified in this section. (ii) The child may remain in the placement for the amount of time necessary to identify and transition the child to an alternative, suitable placement. On and after October 1, 2021, federal AFDC-FC shall not be used to fund the placement for more than 30 days from the date that the qualified individual or interagency placement committee determined that the placement is no longer recommended or the court disapproved the placement. (iii) Notwithstanding clause (ii), if the interagency placement committee determined the placement was not appropriate due to a health and safety concern, immediate arrangements for the child to transition to an appropriate placement shall occur. (i) Commencing January 1, 2017, for AFDC-FC funded children or youth, only those children or youth who are approved for placement, as set forth in this section, may be accepted by a short-term residential therapeutic program. (j) The department shall, through regulation, establish consequences for the failure of a short-term residential therapeutic program to obtain written approval for placement of an AFDC-FC funded child or youth pursuant to this section. (k) The department shall not establish a rate for a short-term residential therapeutic program unless the provider submits a recommendation from the host county or the primary placing county that the program is needed and that the provider is willing and capable of operating the program at the level sought. For purposes of this subdivision, “host county,” and “primary placing county,” mean the same as defined in the department’s AFDC-FC ratesetting regulations. (l) Any short-term residential therapeutic program shall be reclassified and paid at the appropriate program rate for which it is qualified if any of the following occur: (1) (A) It fails to maintain the level of care and services necessary to meet the needs of the children and youth in care, as required by subdivision (a). The determination shall be made consistent with the department’s AFDC-FC ratesetting regulations developed pursuant to Section 11462. (B) In the event of a determination under this paragraph, the short-term residential therapeutic program may appeal the finding or submit a corrective action plan. The appeal process specified in Section 11466.6 shall be available to a short-term residential therapeutic program. During any appeal, the short-term residential therapeutic program shall maintain the appropriate level of care. (2) It fails to maintain a mental health treatment program as required by subdivision (f). (3) It fails to timely obtain or maintain accreditation as required by state law or fails to provide proof of that accreditation to the department upon request. (m) In addition to any other review required by law, the child and family team as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 16501 may periodically review the placement of the child or youth. If the child and family team make a recommendation that the child or youth no longer needs, or is not benefiting from, placement in a short-term residential therapeutic program, the team shall transmit the disapproval, in writing, to the county placing agency to consider a more appropriate placement. (n) The department shall develop a process to address placements when, subsequent to the child’s or youth’s placement, a determination is made by the interagency placement team and shall consider the recommendations of the child and family team, either that the child or youth is not in need of the care and services provided by the certified program. The process shall include, but not be limited to: (1) Notice of the determination in writing to both the county placing agency and the short-term residential therapeutic program or foster family agency that provides intensive and therapeutic treatment. (2) Notice of the county’s plan, and a timeframe, for removal of the child or youth in writing to the short-term residential therapeutic program that provides intensive and therapeutic treatment. (3) Referral to an appropriate placement. (4) Actions to be taken if a child or youth is not timely removed from the short-term residential therapeutic program that provides intensive and therapeutic treatment or placed in an appropriate placement. (o) (1) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a short-term residential therapeutic program from accepting private admissions of children or youth. (2) When a referral is not from a public agency and public funding is not involved, there is no requirement for public agency review or determination of need. (3) Children and youth subject to paragraphs (1) and (2) shall have been determined to be seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3, and subject to Section 1502.4 of the Health and Safety Code, by a licensed mental health professional, as defined in subdivision (j) of Section 4096.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11462.02. Section 11462.02.

(a) Any existing county-operated foster family agency or group home, including the group home operated by the County of San Mateo, shall, commencing January 1, 2017, be classified as, and shall meet all of the requirements of, a foster family agency or a short-term residential therapeutic program, as defined respectively in subdivisions (g) and (ad) of Section 11400, to be eligible to receive AFDC-FC funds. (b) Notwithstanding any other law, the State Department of Social Services may license a county as a foster family agency or as a short-term residential therapeutic program. (c) If a county exercises its option to operate a foster family agency or a short-term residential therapeutic program, the county shall submit an application and shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1500) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code related to foster family agency programs or a short-term residential therapeutic program, as applicable. (d) A county that requests, and is granted, a license for a foster family agency or short-term residential therapeutic program shall apply for an AFDC-FC rate pursuant to Section 11462 or 11463, as applicable. (e) As a condition for eligibility for an AFDC-FC rate for a short-term residential therapeutic program or a foster family agency, the county shall comply with all applicable law concerning a short-term residential therapeutic program or foster family agency, including, but not limited to, the following provisions related to licensing, rate, audit, due process, enforcement, and overpayment collection: (1) Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1500) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code. (2) Article 10 (commencing with Section 360) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 2 of this code. (3) Article 18 (commencing with Section 725) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 2 of this code. (4) Article 22 (commencing with Section 825) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 2 of this code. (5) Article 5 (commencing with Section 11400) of Chapter 2 of Part 3 of Division 9 of this code. (6) Article 6 (commencing with Section 11450) of Chapter 2 of Part 3 of Division 9 of this code. (f) The state is not obligated under Section 36 of Article XIII of the California Constitution to provide any annual funding to a county to comply with this section; with any regulation, executive order, or administrative order implementing this section; or with any federal statute or regulation related to this section, because the county’s operation of a licensed short-term residential therapeutic program or foster family agency is optional for the county and is not required by this section. (g) Counties licensed to operate a foster family agency or short-term residential therapeutic program shall, as a condition to receiving payment, ensure that its conflict-of-interest mitigation plan, submitted to the department pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 1506.1 and subdivision (d) of Section 1562.01 of the Health and Safety Code, addresses, but is not limited to, the following: (1) A decision to place children and youth in a county-operated facility when alternative appropriate placement options exist. (2) The reporting by county staff to the department or other agencies of observed noncompliant conditions or health and safety concerns in county-operated foster family agencies or short-term residential therapeutic programs. (3) The cross-reporting of reports received from mandatory child abuse and neglect reporters involving county-operated foster family agencies and short-term residential therapeutic programs. (4) Disclosures of fatalities and near fatalities of children placed in county-operated foster family agencies and short-term residential therapeutic programs. (h) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11462.2. Section 11462.2.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 11462, when the director determines that a rate established pursuant to that section for a multistate group home facility which operates in more than two states and which provides high impact adventure programs and which first offered these programs in the State of Arizona, is less than the established national rate for the multistate group home facility, and when the director determines that the multistate group home facility is otherwise licensed but would not be available due to the operation of Section 11462, the director may at his or her discretion establish a rate comparable to the rate paid in other states. (b) When the director establishes a rate pursuant to this section, the facility shall be subject to audits by the department, or other public or private audit agency with which the department contracts, no less often than every three years.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11462.04. Section 11462.04.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, commencing January 1, 2017, no new group home rate or change to an existing rate shall be established pursuant to the Rate Classification Level (RCL) system. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the department may grant an exception as appropriate, on a case-by-case basis, when a written request and supporting documentation are provided by a county placing agency, including a county welfare or probation director, that absent the granting of that exception, there is a material risk to the welfare of children due to an inadequate supply of appropriate alternative placement options to meet the needs of children. (c) For group homes being paid under the RCL system, and those granted an exception pursuant to paragraph (b), group home rates shall terminate on December 31, 2016, unless granted an extension under the exception process in subdivision (d) or (e). (d) A group home may request an exception to extend its rate as follows: (1) The department may grant an extension for up to two years, through December 31, 2018, except as provided in paragraph (2), on a case-by-case basis, when a written request and supporting documentation are provided by a county placing agency, including a county welfare or probation director, that absent the granting of that exception, there is a material risk to the welfare of children due to an inadequate supply of appropriate alternative placement options to meet the needs of children. The exception may include time to meet the program accreditation requirement or the mental health certification requirement. (A) The department may grant an additional extension to a group home beyond December 31, 2018, upon a county child welfare agency submitting a written request on behalf of a provider and providing documentation in a format to be determined by the department pursuant to subparagraph (B). If granted, the extension requests shall be provided in increments up to six months and may be renewed by the department if the documentation is provided. Extensions granted pursuant to this subparagraph shall not exceed a total of 12 months. (B) In order to be eligible to maintain placement of placed foster youth in a group home receiving an extension pursuant to subparagraph (A), the county child welfare agency, in partnership with the county mental health plan, shall submit a plan to the department by August 15, 2018. This plan shall do all of the following: (i) Describe the agency’s plan to transition all foster youth under the jurisdiction of the county residing in group homes into a home-based placement, or, if determined by the interagency placement committee, to a licensed short-term residential therapeutic program (STRTP) within the extension period. (ii) Address the need, availability, and capacity of STRTPs and other therapeutic placement options for the youth under the jurisdiction of the county and document prior and ongoing efforts taken to solicit or develop needed STRTP capacity. (iii) Develop and document child specific transition plans that include a description of all of the following: (I) Intensive family finding and engagement for every child lacking an identified home-based caregiver, including those youth identified for STRTP transition. (II) Child and family team-driven case plans that identify and respond to barriers to home-based placement. (III) Documentation of the trauma-informed and permanency-competent specialty mental health services to be provided, including wraparound, collateral, intensive care coordination and intensive home-based services, and therapeutic behavioral services. (iv) Document efforts to expand or establish intensive services foster care, therapeutic foster care programs, and other home-based services that provide timely access to trauma-informed care, in conjunction with the county behavioral health department. (v) Detail any barriers to achieving the goals in clauses (i) to (iv), inclusive, that have led the county to support the extension. (vi) Identify any additional solutions to the barriers that are not addressed in the efforts identified in clauses (i) to (iv), inclusive, which may include needed action from partner agencies such as county boards of supervisors, county behavioral health directors, the department, the State Department of Health Care Services, STRTPs, foster family agencies, or other local agencies, including, but not limited to, regional centers and special education agencies, that would aid the county child welfare agency in delivering appropriate services to foster youth. (C) The department shall require a provider on whose behalf an extension is being sought pursuant to subparagraph (A) to document the provider’s efforts to convert to an STRTP, foster family agency, or other service provider. (2) Pursuant to Section 11462.041, after the expiration of the extension afforded in paragraph (1), the department may grant an additional extension to a group home beyond December 31, 2018, upon a provider submitting a written request and the county probation department providing documentation stating that absent the granting of that extension, there is a significant risk to the safety of the youth or the public, due to an inadequate supply of short-term residential therapeutic programs or resource families necessary to meet the needs of probation youth. The extension granted to any provider through this section may be reviewed annually by the department if concerns arise regarding that provider’s facility. Pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 11462.041, the final report submitted to the Legislature shall address whether or not the extensions are still necessary. (3) The exception shall allow the provider to continue to receive the rate under the prior ratesetting system. (4) A provider granted an extension pursuant to this section shall continue to operate and be governed by the applicable laws and regulations that were operative on December 31, 2016. (5) If the exception request granted pursuant to this subdivision is not made by the host county, the placing county shall notify and provide a copy to the host county. (e) (1) It is the intent of the Legislature to ensure that foster youth with more intensive needs receive timely access to services and supports that will reduce the use of, and the length of stay in, congregate care settings, while acknowledging that the ultimate goal for these youth is placement in a home-based setting that will lead to permanency. It is also the intent of the Legislature to acknowledge that continued development of home-based intensive services capacity is necessary to reduce the use of congregate care, and that state and county agencies and foster care providers must work together during the extension period described in this section to address the barriers to building the needed capacity to serve foster youth in a variety of high-quality settings. (2) The department may grant an extension to a group home beyond December 31, 2019, and until December 31, 2020, upon a county child welfare agency submitting a written request on behalf of a provider that includes an update to any previously submitted documentation described in subdivision (d). In order to be eligible to maintain placement of placed foster youth in a group home receiving an extension pursuant to this subdivision, the county child welfare agency and the county mental health plan shall submit a collaborative plan to the department and the State Department of Health Care Services by December 15, 2019. The plan shall do all of the following: (A) Update the child-specific transition plans previously submitted pursuant to clause (iii) of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (d), or provide new child-specific transition plans, if not previously submitted, for any foster youth who remains in a group home that is currently transitioning to STRTP licensure and for any foster child who remains in a group home that is not transitioning to STRTP licensure, as evidenced by the department not having received an STRTP program statement or having been denied licensure as an STRTP. The updated or new child-specific transition plans shall include the following: (i) Verification that family finding activities were previously attempted on behalf of the child and a description of family finding activities currently underway, or other activities to connect the child to caring adults outside of the congregate care setting who can provide emotional support to the child. (ii) A summary of child and family team meetings and case plan efforts to address the child’s strengths and needs, as informed by the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment, and any planned activities to support the child’s transition to another appropriate placement. (iii) A summary of the specialty mental health services planned or provided to the child to support the case plan goals, as informed by the CANS assessment and the child and family team. (B) Based on an analysis by the department, in consultation with the county child welfare agencies and behavioral health agencies, update and validate the needed congregate care capacity and capacity of intensive, home-based services as an alternative to congregate care and existing or planned contracts with congregate care or family-based providers. (C) Identify any existing or planned contracts or efforts to directly provide or contract for intensive family finding and child-specific recruitment for children in congregate care or other family-based settings. (D) Identify any existing or planned specialty mental health services targeted to address the mental health service needs of a foster child transitioning from congregate care to permanency or other family-based care setting and any gaps that remain. For children residing in group homes who require the level of care provided by an STRTP, as determined by an interagency placement committee, or who are placed into an STRTP without a mental health contract, provide a description of the specialty mental health services arranged for by the county mental health plan to address the mental health service needs of children placed into the facilities. (3) A county that did not submit a request and plan for extension pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (d), may submit a request for an extension pursuant to this subdivision, but the county shall also submit the information required pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d). (4) The department, the State Department of Health Care Services, the County Welfare Directors Association of California, the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California, the Chief Probation Officers of California, the California Alliance of Child and Family Services, and other stakeholders, shall meet to develop a collaborative plan to address barriers to building high-quality services in residential treatment programs and in family-based settings, including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Developing technical assistance to support youth who have more intensive service needs to prevent placement disruptions and out-of-state placements and support transitions to relative-based care or other family-based care. (B) Identifying ways to increase intensive family-based home capacity to support foster youth transitioning from congregate care and to prevent congregate care placement. (C) Identifying systemic improvements and technical assistance options to assist providers in navigating processes, such as STRTP licensure, mental health plan approval, Medi-Cal billing, Medi-Cal certification, implementing trauma-informed programming and services, and transitioning to other facility types and services. (D) Evaluating the timing of STRTP licensure, accreditation, mental health plan approval, and Medi-Cal certification processes to facilitate the conversion of quality group homes into licensed STRTPs and make recommendations regarding adjustments to those timelines. (f) (1) The extended rate granted pursuant to either paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (d) or subdivision (e) shall be provisional and subject to terms and conditions set by the department during the provisional period. (2) Consistent with Section 11466.01, for provisional rates, the following shall be established: (A) Terms and conditions, including the duration of the provisional rate. (B) An administrative review process for provisional rate determinations, including denials, reductions, and terminations. (C) An administrative review process that includes a departmental review, corrective action, and a protest with the department. Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), this process shall be disseminated by written directive pending the promulgation of regulations. (g) Upon termination of an existing group home rate under the RCL system, a new rate shall not be paid until an application is approved and a rate is granted by the department pursuant to Section 11462 as a short-term residential therapeutic program or, effective January 1, 2017, the rate set pursuant to Section 11463 as a foster family agency. (h) The department shall, in the development of the new rate structures, consider and provide for placement of all children who are displaced as a result of reclassification of treatment facilities. (i) Notwithstanding the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the department may implement this section through all-county letters.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11462.4. Section 11462.4.

Notwithstanding Section 11342.610 of the Government Code, providers, as defined in Section 11466, shall be deemed small businesses and the department shall project the impact on group homes and foster family agencies of any new regulations which will affect those community care facilities.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11462.06. Section 11462.06.

(a) For purposes of the administration of this article, including the setting of AFDC-FC provider rates, the department shall deem the reasonable costs of leases for shelter care for foster children to be allowable costs. Reimbursement of shelter costs shall not exceed the fair market rental value, as determined in subdivision (b), of owned, leased, or rented buildings, including any structures, improvements, edifices, land, grounds, and other similar property that is owned, leased, or rented by the provider and that is used for the provider’s AFDC-FC programs and activities, exclusive of idle capacity and capacity used for nonresidential foster care programs and activities. Shelter costs shall be considered reasonable in relation to the fair market value limit as described in subdivision (b). (b) (1) For purposes of this section, fair market rental value of leased property shall be determined by either of the following methods, as chosen by the provider: (A) The fair market rental value determined by a comparative analysis prepared by an independent real estate broker. The comparative analysis shall be performed by a qualified, licensed professional who acts within the scope of the broker’s license, who, at a minimum, meets the standards for brokers, as specified in Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 2705) of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations, and the comparatives shall be made in accordance with Section 200.465(a) of Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (B) The fair market rental value determined by an independent appraisal. The appraisal shall be performed by a qualified, licensed professional appraiser who, at a minimum, meets standards for appraisers as specified in Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 3500) of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations. (2) The determinations made pursuant to this subdivision shall not be deemed independent if performed under a less-than-arm’s-length agreement, or if performed by a person or persons employed by, or under contract with, the program for purposes other than performing appraisals, or by a person having a material interest in any program that receives foster care payments. If the department believes an appraisal does not meet these standards, the department shall give its reasons in writing to the provider and provide an opportunity for appeal. (c) Notwithstanding the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the department may implement applicable provisions of this section by all-county letters or similar instructions until regulations are adopted. (d) (1) Commencing July 1, 2003, any group home or short-term residential therapeutic provider with a self-dealing lease transaction for shelter costs, as defined in Section 5233 of the Corporations Code, shall not be eligible for an AFDC-FC rate. (2) Lease and rental transactions are subject to restrictions set forth in Section 200.465(c) of Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (e) (1) Fair market rental value shall be determined at the execution of the lease and at renewal or extension of the lease, or for a month-to-month tenancy, at the commencement of the audit period. (2) Lease and rental arrangements shall be reviewed periodically to determine if circumstances have changed and other options are available.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11462.011. Section 11462.011.

(a) The State Department of Health Care Services shall, in consultation with the Department of Managed Health Care, the State Department of Social Services, the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California, the County Welfare Directors Association of California, the Chief Probation Officers of California, provider representatives, and other relevant stakeholders, establish program standards and procedures for oversight, enforcement, and issuance of children’s crisis residential mental health program approvals, including provisional approvals that are effective for a period of less than one year. The State Department of Health Care Services shall also establish due process protections related to the children’s crisis residential mental health program approval process. (b) The State Department of Health Care Services shall, in collaboration with the department, the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California, provider representatives, and other relevant stakeholders, provide guidance to counties for the provision of children’s crisis residential services, including funding for children who are Medi-Cal beneficiaries and who are admitted to a children’s crisis residential program. This subdivision shall only be implemented to the extent that any necessary federal approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is available and is not otherwise jeopardized. (c) (1) The children’s crisis residential program shall be used only as a diversion to admittance to a psychiatric hospital. (2) (A) The length of the initial authorization for admission to a children’s crisis residential program shall be limited to 10 consecutive days. (B) If a determination is made by a health care professional that a children’s crisis residential program is medically necessary and is the appropriate continued level of care, either of the following shall occur: (i) In the case of a Medi-Cal beneficiary, the children’s crisis residential program shall notify the county mental health plan authorizing those services before extending the length of stay beyond 10 consecutive days. (ii) In the case of non-Medi-Cal beneficiaries, reauthorizations for admission shall be obtained using the process established by the entity providing coverage. (C) With the exception of clause (ii) of subparagraph (B), this paragraph shall be implemented only to the extent that any necessary federal approvals are obtained and the State Department of Health Care Services determines, in its sole discretion, that federal financial participation is not jeopardized. (3) A children’s crisis residential program may accept for admission any child who meets all of the following requirements: (A) The child is referred by a parent or guardian, physician, or licensed mental health professional, or by the representative of a public or private entity, including, but not limited to, the county probation agency or child welfare services agency with responsibility for the placement of a child in foster care, that has the right to make these decisions on behalf of a child who is in mental health crisis. (B) The child is under 19, 20, or 21 years of age, depending on a program’s licensing requirements. (C) The child has a serious behavioral health disorder. (D) The child requires a 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, staff-secured, unlocked treatment setting. (d) A children’s crisis residential mental health program approval issued by the State Department of Health Care Services, or a county mental health plan to which the department has delegated approval authority, shall be a condition of continued licensure for a short-term residential therapeutic program operating as a children’s crisis residential program. (e) The State Department of Health Care Services, or a county mental health plan to which the department has delegated approval authority, may enforce the children’s crisis residential mental health program approval standards by taking any of the following actions against a noncompliant children’s crisis residential program: (1) Suspend or revoke a children’s crisis residential mental health program approval. (2) Impose monetary penalties. (3) Place a children’s crisis residential mental health program on probation. (4) Require a children’s crisis residential mental health program to prepare and comply with a corrective action plan. (f) The State Department of Health Care Services, or a county mental health plan to which the department has delegated approval authority, shall provide a children’s crisis residential mental health program with due process protections when taking any of the actions described in subdivision (e). (g) Contingent upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act for these purposes, the department shall begin implementation of this section no later than July 1, 2018, and shall commence the operation of the approval process for children’s crisis residential mental health program approvals no later than January 1, 2019.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11462.022. Section 11462.022.

(a) Upon meeting the licensure requirements pursuant to Section 1530.8 of the Health and Safety Code, a county child welfare agency operating a temporary shelter care facility, as defined in Section 1530.8 of the Health and Safety Code, shall comply with this section. (b) Prior to detaining the child in the temporary shelter care facility, the child welfare agency shall make reasonable efforts, consistent with current law, to place the child with a relative, tribal member, nonrelative extended family member, approved resource family, or in the case of an Indian child, an extended family member as described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 224.1 or a tribally approved home as described in subdivision (r) of Section 224.1 and in Section 10553.12. When the child welfare agency has reason to believe that the child is or may be an Indian child, the agency shall make active efforts to comply with the federal Indian Child Welfare Act placement preferences, as required by Section 361.31. (c) A child may be detained or placed in a temporary shelter care facility only for the duration necessary to enable the county placing agency to perform the required assessments and to appropriately place the child. (d) Upon admission, the temporary shelter care facility shall provide each child with health, mental health, and developmental screenings, as applicable. Commencing when a child is admitted into a temporary shelter care facility, and continuing until the child’s discharge from the facility, the county welfare agency shall continuously strive to identify and place the child in an appropriate licensed or approved home or facility. (e) The temporary shelter care facility shall ensure that the following services, at a minimum, are identified in the facility’s plan of operation and are available to children detained at the facility: (1) Medical, developmental, behavioral, and mental health assessments based on the information obtained through the screenings required pursuant to subdivision (d). (2) Based on the screening, assessments, and other information obtained about the child, identification of the appropriate placement resources that meet the child’s needs. (3) Trauma-informed services and interventions. (4) Crisis intervention services. (5) Care and supervision provided by trauma-informed trained and qualified staff. (6) Referrals to and coordination with service providers who can meet the medical, developmental, behavioral, or mental health needs of the child identified upon admission. (7) Educational services to ensure the child’s educational progress, including efforts to maintain the child in their school of origin if practical. (8) Visitation services, including the ability to provide court-ordered, supervised visitation. (9) Structured indoor and outdoor activities, including recreational and social programs. (10) Transportation and other forms of support to ensure, to the extent possible, the child’s ability to attend and participate in important milestone events. (11) Mentorship and peer support-type programs. (f) (1) In no case shall the detention or placement in a temporary shelter care facility exceed 10 calendar days. For any stay that exceeds 10 calendar days, the child welfare agency shall submit a written report to the department, within 24 hours of an overstay, that shall include a description of the reasons and circumstances for the child’s overstay, and shall be signed by the county child welfare agency director or their designee. The department may choose not to issue a citation to the county for a violation of the 10-day placement limit when, based on the information contained in the report, the overstay is reasonable and the county is complying with subdivision (d). (2) The child welfare agency may permit any child or youth to access assessment and other services described in subdivision (d) or (e) while in an out-of-home placement. (3) To ensure the protection of children placed in temporary shelter care facilities, the child welfare agency shall separate children placed in temporary shelter care facilities pursuant to subdivision (b) from children returning to the shelter due to a failed placement, when possible, when circumstances warrant that separation. Temporary shelters shall staff as necessary to adequately supervise children to ensure an appropriate environment for all children present. (g) At the request of the county, the department shall provide technical assistance necessary for the implementation of this section. (h) The department, in consultation with the counties, shall provide a report to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2021, that shall include the number of children and youth served by temporary shelter care facilities, characteristics of children detained in these facilities, and whether there is a continued need for the licensing and operation of temporary shelter care facilities.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11462.041. Section 11462.041.

(a) The Legislature recognizes that group homes are one of the primary placement options utilized by probation departments to avoid inappropriate housing of youth in a detention hall, more so since the 2007 realignment of most juvenile offenders from state supervision to county supervision. In order to further improve outcomes for these youth, targeted efforts will be required at the state and local levels to create sufficient capacity in home-based family care and in short-term residential therapeutic programs in order to serve these youth safely in the least restrictive, family-based settings, whenever possible. This increased capacity is needed in both the number of related and unrelated family-based caregivers, in the caregivers’ ability to meet the needs of probation youth, and in the services and supports available to these caregivers. Additionally, there must be sufficient capacity in short-term residential therapeutic programs to meet the needs of probation youth and ensure public safety. (b) To meet the capacity needs described in subdivision (a), commencing on January 1, 2016, county probation departments shall do all of the following: (1) Work with group home providers to develop short-term residential therapeutic programs that meet the treatment needs of probation supervised youth in foster care. (2) Work with foster family agencies and other community-based organizations to develop strategies to recruit, retain, and support specialized foster homes for probation youth. (3) Work with the department on strategies to identify, engage, and support relative caregivers. (4) Work with the department to define probation youth outcome measures to be collected and analyzed to assess implementation of this act. (c) To support the activities described in subdivision (b), commencing on January 1, 2016, the department, in consultation with the Chief Probation Officers of California, shall do all of the following: (1) Work with providers, courts, and county probation departments to develop capacity for home-based family care. (2) Work with short-term residential therapeutic programs and foster family agencies to address the treatment needs of specific probation populations, including, but not limited to, sex offenders, youth with gang affiliations, youth who currently are placed out of state, and youth with mental illness. (3) Develop appropriate rate structures to support probation foster youth in home-based family care. (4) Identify strategies to address the systemic challenges specific to small and rural counties in meeting the needs of probation foster youth in need of placement or treatment services. (5) Provide technical assistance to existing group home providers interested in serving probation youth during the transition to the short-term residential therapeutic program or foster family agency models outlined in this act. (6) Provide technical assistance related to implementation of this section to any requesting county probation department. (d) Beginning January 1, 2018, the department, in consultation with the Chief Probation Officers of California, shall assess the capacity and quality of placement options for probation youth in foster care, including home-based family care and short-term residential therapeutic programs. This assessment shall include: (1) The number and type of placement options. (2) Whether short-term residential therapeutic programs have developed programming tailored to address the propensity of probation youth to run away. (3) The degree to which foster family agencies, community-based service providers, and county probation departments have developed the programs and services necessary to recruit, retain, and support foster families and relative caregivers serving foster youth supervised by probation departments. (4) Any need for additional training and technical assistance to be provided to short-term residential therapeutic programs or foster family agency providers. (e) The department, in consultation with the Chief Probation Officers of California and the counties, shall provide an interim report, pursuant to Section 9795 of the Government Code, to the Legislature no later than January 10, 2019, and a final report, pursuant to Section 9795 of the Government Code, to the Legislature no later than January 10, 2021, which shall include the number of youth served in home-based family care, in short-term residential therapeutic programs, and in group homes, characteristics of youth in these placement types, and whether there is a continued need for probation placement in group homes. The reports also shall provide recommendations on any further technical assistance and training, if needed, to facilitate county probation departments, county child welfare departments, DSS, and providers in strengthening the continuum of care for justice-involved youth.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11462.045. Section 11462.045.

(a) The State Department of Social Services shall establish a working group to develop recommended revisions to the current system of setting reimbursement rates for group home providers. (b) In developing recommended revisions to the group home ratesetting system, the working group shall consider the larger context for how the system can better incorporate a spectrum of placements and services that promote positive outcomes for children and families and shall address all of the following: (1) The provision of mental health and other critical services for children and youth. (2) The provision of services in family-like settings. (3) The provision of services that support families and relatives. (4) Outcome-based evaluation or other quality improvement concepts. (c) The working group shall include legislative policy and budget staff, stakeholders that are representative of foster youth, providers, children’s advocates, and county welfare and probation directors and staff.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11463. Section 11463.

(a) The department shall commence development of a new payment structure for the Title IV-E funded foster family agency placement option that maximizes federal funding, in consultation with county placing agencies. (b) The department shall develop a payment system for foster family agencies that provide treatment, intensive treatment, and therapeutic foster care programs, and shall consider all of the following factors: (1) Administrative activities that are eligible for federal financial participation provided, at the request of the county, for and to county-licensed or approved family homes and resource families, intensive case management and supervision, and services to achieve legal permanency or successful transition to adulthood. (2) Social work activities that are eligible for federal financial participation under Title IV-E (42 U.S.C. Sec. 670 et seq.) of the federal Social Security Act. (3) Social work and mental health services eligible for federal financial participation under Title XIX (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396 et seq.) of the federal Social Security Act. (4) Intensive treatment or therapeutic services in the foster family agency. (5) Core services that are made available to children and nonminor dependents either directly or secured through agreements with other agencies, and which are trauma informed, culturally relevant, and include any of the following: (A) Specialty mental health services for children who meet medical necessity criteria for specialty mental health services, as provided for in Section 1830.205 or 1830.210 of Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations. (B) Transition support services for children, youth, and families upon initial entry and placement changes and for families who assume permanency through reunification, adoption, or guardianship. (C) Educational, physical, behavioral, and mental health supports, including extracurricular activities and social supports. (D) Activities designed to support transition-age youth and nonminor dependents in achieving a successful adulthood. (E) Services to achieve permanency, including supporting efforts to reunify or achieve adoption or guardianship and efforts to maintain or establish relationships with parents, siblings, extended family members, tribes, or others important to the child or youth, as appropriate. (F) When serving Indian children, as defined in subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 224.1, the core services specified in subparagraphs (A) to (E), inclusive, shall be provided to eligible Indian children consistent with active efforts pursuant to Section 361.7. (G) The core services specified in subparagraphs (A) to (F), inclusive, are not intended to duplicate services already available to foster children in the community, but to support access to those services and supports to the extent already available. Those services and supports may include, but are not limited to, foster youth services available through county offices of education, Indian Health Services, and school-based extracurricular activities. (6) Staff training. (7) Health and Safety Code requirements. (8) A process for accreditation that includes all of the following: (A) Provision for all licensed foster family agencies to maintain in good standing accreditation from a nationally recognized accreditation agency with expertise in programs for youth group care facilities, as determined by the department. (B) Promulgation by the department of information identifying the agency or agencies from which accreditation shall be required. (C) Provision for timely reporting to the department of any change in accreditation status. (9) Mental health certification, including a requirement to timely report to the department any change in mental health certificate status. (10) Populations served, including, but not limited to, any of the following: (A) (i) Children and youth assessed as seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3, including those children and youth placed out-of-home pursuant to an individualized education program developed under Article 2 (commencing with Section 56320) of Chapter 4 of Part 30 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code. (ii) Children assessed as meeting the medical necessity criteria for specialty mental health services, as provided for in Section 1830.205 or 1830.210 of Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations. (B) AFDC-FC children and youth receiving intensive and therapeutic treatment services in a foster family agency. (C) AFDC-FC children and youth receiving mental health treatment services from a foster family agency. (11) Maximization of federal financial participation for Title IV-E (42 U.S.C. Sec. 670 et seq.) and Title XIX (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396 et. seq.) of the federal Social Security Act. (c) Commencing January 1, 2017, the department shall establish rates pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b). The rate structure shall include an interim rate, a provisional rate for new foster family agency programs, and a probationary rate. The department may issue a one-time reimbursement for accreditation fees incurred after August 1, 2016, in an amount and manner determined by the department in written directives. (1) (A) Unless the Tiered Rate Structure established in subdivision (h) of Section 11461 applies to a child or nonminor dependent, initial interim rates developed pursuant to this section shall be effective January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2028, inclusive, or 24 months from the date required under paragraph (9) of subdivision (h) of Section 11461, whichever is later. (B) The initial interim rates developed pursuant to this paragraph shall not be lower than the rates proposed as part of the Governor’s 2016 May Revision. (C) The initial interim rates set forth in written directives or regulations pursuant to paragraph (4) shall become inoperative on January 1, 2029, or 24 months from the date required under paragraph (9) of subdivision (h) of Section 11461, whichever is later. (2) Consistent with Section 11466.01, for provisional and probationary rates, all of the following shall be established: (A) Terms and conditions, including the duration of the rate. (B) An administrative review process for the rate determinations, including denials, reductions, and terminations. (C) An administrative review process that includes a departmental review, corrective action, and an appeal with the department. Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), this process shall be disseminated by written directive pending the promulgation of regulations. (3) (A) The foster family agency rate shall include a basic rate pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (g) of Section 11461. A child or youth placed in a certified family home or with a resource family of a foster family agency is eligible for the basic rate, which shall be passed on to the certified parent or resource family along with annual increases in accordance with paragraph (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 11461. (B) The basic rate paid to either a certified family home or a resource family of a foster family agency shall be paid by the agency to the home from the rate that is paid to the agency pursuant to this section. (C) In addition to the basic rate described in this paragraph, the department shall develop foster family agency rates that consider specialized programs to serve children with specific needs, including, but not limited to, all of the following: (i) Intensive treatment and behavioral needs, including those currently being served under intensive treatment foster care. (ii) Specialized health care needs. (4) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the foster family agency rates, and the manner in which they are determined, shall be set forth in written directives until regulations are adopted. (d) The department shall develop a system of governmental monitoring and oversight that shall be carried out in coordination with the State Department of Health Care Services. Oversight responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to, ensuring conformity with federal and state law, including program, fiscal, and health and safety reviews. The state agencies shall attempt to minimize duplicative audits and reviews to reduce the administrative burden on providers. (e) The department shall consider the impact on children and youth being transitioned to alternate programs as a result of the new ratesetting system. (f) Commencing July 1, 2019, the rates paid to foster family agencies shall, except for the rate paid to a certified family home or resource family agency pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (c), be 4.15 percent higher than the rates paid to foster family agencies in the 2018–19 fiscal year. (g) The amount included for the component for social workers in the interim rates for foster family agencies developed and implemented by the department pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) shall be increased over the rates paid to foster family agencies in the 2019–20 fiscal year by fifty dollars ($50) per child, per month, effective July 1, 2021. (h) (1) Notwithstanding the rate established pursuant to subdivisions (a) to (g), inclusive, the care and supervision rate paid on behalf of a child or nonminor dependent in a foster family agency placement on or after the date required by paragraph (9) of subdivision (h) of Section 11461 shall be based on the Tiered Rate Structure established in subdivision (h) of Section 11461. (2) Provided all federal and state rate and licensing requirements are met, the per child per month care and supervision rate, as set forth in paragraph (3) of subdivision (h) of Section 11461, for a child or nonminor dependent placed with a foster family agency shall include a rate, according to the child or nonminor dependent’s tier as determined by the child or nonminor dependent’s periodic IP-CANS assessment, for administrative and other activities described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 11460, according to the following tiered schedule: Tier 1: $1610 Tier 2: $2634 Tier 3: $2634 [Ages 0-5] Tier 3+: $7213 [Ages 6+] (3) The rate set forth in paragraph (2) beginning July 1, 2028, and each fiscal year thereafter, shall be annually adjusted on July 1 by the annual percentage change in the California Necessities Index applicable to the calendar year within which each July 1 occurs. (4) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this subdivision by means of all-county letters or similar written instructions, which shall be exempt from submission to or review by the Office of Administrative Law. These all-county letters or similar instructions shall have the same force and effect as regulations until the adoption of regulations no later than January 1, 2030.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11463.5. Section 11463.5.

In order to receive funding on behalf of children receiving AFDC-FC, each provider, as defined in Section 11466, shall provide a full disclosure of all financial information related to its operation, including independent certification of the information provided, in a manner and format established by the department.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11464. Section 11464.

(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (1) Children who are consumers of regional center services and also receiving Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC), Approved Relative Caregiver Funding Program (ARC) payments, Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment (Kin-GAP) benefits, or Adoption Assistance Program (AAP) benefits have special needs that can require care and supervision beyond that typically provided to children in foster care. Clarifying the roles of the child welfare and developmental disabilities services systems will ensure that these children receive the services and supports they need in a timely manner and encourage the successful adoption of these children, where appropriate. (2) To address the extraordinary care and supervision needs of children who are consumers of regional center services and also receiving AFDC-FC, ARC, Kin-GAP, or AAP benefits, it is necessary to provide a rate for care and supervision of these children that is higher than the average rate they would otherwise receive through the foster care system and higher than the rate other children with medical and other significant special needs receive. (3) Despite the enhanced rate provided in this section, some children who are consumers of regional center services and also receiving AFDC-FC, ARC, Kin-GAP, or AAP benefits may have care and supervision needs that are so extraordinary that they cannot be addressed within that rate. In these limited circumstances, a process should be established whereby a supplement may be provided in addition to the enhanced rate. (4) Children who receive rates pursuant to this section shall be afforded the same due process rights as all children who apply for AFDC-FC, ARC, Kin-GAP, and AAP benefits pursuant to Section 10950. (b) Rates for children who are both regional center consumers and recipients of AFDC-FC, ARC, or Kin-GAP benefits under this chapter shall be determined as provided in Section 4684 and this section. (c) (1) The rate to be paid for 24-hour out-of-home care and supervision provided to children who are both consumers of regional center services pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 4512 and recipients of AFDC-FC, ARC, or Kin-GAP benefits under this chapter shall be two thousand six dollars ($2,006) per child per month. (2) (A) The county, at its sole discretion, may authorize a supplement of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) to the rate for children three years of age and older, if it determines the child has the need for extraordinary care and supervision that cannot be met within the rate established pursuant to paragraph (1). The State Department of Social Services and the State Department of Developmental Services, in consultation with stakeholders representing county child welfare agencies, regional centers, and children who are both consumers of regional center services and recipients of AFDC-FC, ARC, Kin-GAP, or AAP benefits, shall develop objective criteria to be used by counties in determining eligibility for and the level of the supplements provided pursuant to this paragraph. The State Department of Social Services shall issue an all-county letter to implement these criteria within 120 days of the effective date of this act. The criteria shall take into account the extent to which the child has any of the following: (i) Severe impairment in physical coordination and mobility. (ii) Severe deficits in self-help skills. (iii) Severely disruptive or self-injurious behavior. (iv) A severe medical condition. (B) The caregiver may request the supplement described in subparagraph (A) directly or upon referral by a regional center. Referral by a regional center shall not create the presumption of eligibility for the supplement. (C) When assessing a request for the supplement, the county shall seek information from the consumer’s regional center to assist in the assessment. The county shall issue a determination of eligibility for the supplement within 90 days of receipt of the request. The county shall report to the State Department of Social Services the number and level of rate supplements issued pursuant to this paragraph. (d) (1) The rate to be paid for 24-hour out-of-home care and supervision provided for children who are receiving services under the California Early Start Intervention Services Act, are not yet determined by their regional center to have a developmental disability, as defined in subdivisions (a) and (l) of Section 4512, and are receiving AFDC-FC, ARC, or Kin-GAP benefits under this chapter, shall be eight hundred ninety-eight dollars ($898) per child per month. If a regional center subsequently determines that the child is an individual with a developmental disability as that term is defined by subdivisions (a) and (l) of Section 4512, the rate to be paid from the date of that determination shall be consistent with subdivision (c). (2) The rates to be paid for 24-hour out-of-home nonmedical care and supervision for children who are recipients of AFDC-FC, ARC, or Kin-GAP and consumers of regional center services from a community care facility licensed pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1500) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code and vendored by a regional center pursuant to Section 56004 of Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations, shall be the facility rate established by the State Department of Developmental Services. (e) Rates paid pursuant to this section are subject to all of the following requirements: (1) The rates paid to the foster care provider under subdivision (c) and paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) are only for the care and supervision of the child, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 11460 and shall not be applicable to facilities described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d). (2) Regional centers shall separately purchase or secure the services that are contained in the child’s Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) or Individual Program Plan (IPP), pursuant to Section 4684. (3) Beginning with the 2011–12 fiscal year, the rates in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) and paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) shall be adjusted annually on July 1 by the percentage change in the California Necessities Index applicable to the calendar year within which each July 1 occurs. A county shall not be reimbursed for any increase in this rate that exceeds the adjustments made in accordance with this methodology. (f) (1) The AFDC-FC rates paid on behalf of a regional center consumer who is a recipient of AFDC-FC prior to July 1, 2007, shall remain in effect unless a change in the placement warrants redetermination of the rate or if the child is no longer AFDC-FC eligible. However, AFDC-FC rates paid on behalf of these children that are lower than the rates specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) or paragraph (1) of subdivision (d), respectively, shall be increased as appropriate to the amount set forth in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) or paragraph (1) of subdivision (d), effective July 1, 2007, and shall remain in effect unless a change in the placement or a change in AFDC-FC eligibility of the child warrants redetermination of the rate. (2) For a child who is receiving AFDC-FC benefits or for whom a foster care eligibility determination is pending, and for whom an eligibility determination for regional center services pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 4512 is pending or approved, and for whom, prior to July 1, 2007, a State Department of Developmental Services facility rate determination request has been made and is pending, the rate shall be the State Department of Developmental Services facility rate determined by the regional center through an individualized assessment, or the rate established in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c), whichever is greater. The rate shall remain in effect until the child is no longer eligible to receive AFDC-FC, or, if still AFDC-FC eligible, is found ineligible for regional center services as an individual described in subdivision (a) of Section 4512. Other than the circumstances described in this section, regional centers shall not establish facility rates for AFDC-FC purposes. (g) (1) The department shall adopt emergency regulations in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and for the purposes of that chapter, including Section 11349.6 of the Government Code, on or before July 1, 2009. (2) The adoption of regulations pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be deemed an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, and general welfare. The regulations authorized by this subdivision shall remain in effect for no more than 180 days, by which time final regulations shall be adopted. (h) (1) The State Department of Social Services and the State Department of Developmental Services shall provide to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, on an annual basis, the data set forth in paragraph (2) to facilitate legislative review of the outcomes of the changes made by the addition of this section. The first report shall be submitted on October 1, 2007. (2) The following data shall be provided pursuant to this subdivision: (A) The number of, and services provided to, children who are consumers of regional center services and who are receiving AAP, ARC, Kin-GAP, or AFDC-FC, broken out by children receiving the amount pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c), the amount pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (d), and the level of supplement pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c). (B) A comparison of services provided to these children and similar children who are regional center consumers who do not receive AFDC-FC, ARC, Kin-GAP, or AAP benefits, broken out by children receiving the amount pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c), the amount pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (d), and the level of supplement pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c). (C) The number and nature of appeals filed regarding services provided or secured by regional centers for these children, consistent with Section 4714, broken out by children receiving the amount pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c), the amount pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (d), and the level of supplement pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c). (D) The number of these children who are adopted before and after the act adding this section, broken out by children receiving the amount pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c), the amount pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (d), and the level of supplement pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c). (E) The number and levels of supplements requested pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c). (F) The number of appeals requested of the decision by counties to deny the request for the supplement pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c). (G) The total number and levels of supplements authorized pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) and the number of these supplements authorized upon appeal. (i) The State Department of Social Services and the State Department of Developmental Services shall provide public transparency regarding implementation of this section through the annual posting of the data in paragraph (2) of subdivision (h) on their respective internet websites. Each department shall also maintain a link to the other department’s data on their respective internet websites. (j) (1) Commencing January 1, 2012, and prior to July 1, 2017, the rate described in subdivision (c) shall be paid for an eligible nonminor dependent who is under 21 years of age, is receiving AFDC-FC or Kin-GAP benefits pursuant to Section 11403, and is a consumer of regional center services. (2) Commencing July 1, 2017, the rate described in subdivision (c) shall be paid for an eligible nonminor dependent who is under 21 years of age, is receiving AFDC-FC, ARC, or Kin-GAP benefits pursuant to Section 11403, and is a consumer of regional center services.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11465. Section 11465.

(a) If a child is living with a parent who receives AFDC-FC or Kin-GAP benefits, or, on or after July 1, 2017, Approved Relative Caregiver Funding Program (ARC) payments, the rate paid to the provider on behalf of the parent shall include an amount for care and supervision of the child. (b) For each category of eligible licensed community care facility, as defined in Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code, the department shall adopt regulations setting forth a uniform rate to cover the cost of care and supervision of the child in each category of eligible licensed community care facility. (c) (1) On and after July 1, 1998, the uniform rate to cover the cost of care and supervision of a child pursuant to this section shall be increased by 6 percent, rounded to the nearest dollar. The resultant amounts shall constitute the new uniform rate. (2) (A) On and after July 1, 1999, the uniform rate to cover the cost of care and supervision of a child pursuant to this section shall be adjusted by an amount equal to the California Necessities Index computed pursuant to Section 11453, rounded to the nearest dollar. The resultant amounts shall constitute the new uniform rate, subject to further adjustment pursuant to subparagraph (B). (B) In addition to the adjustment specified in subparagraph (A), on and after January 1, 2000, the uniform rate to cover the cost of care and supervision of a child pursuant to this section shall be increased by 2.36 percent, rounded to the nearest dollar. The resultant amounts shall constitute the new uniform rate. (3) Subject to the availability of funds, for the 2000–01 fiscal year and annually thereafter, these rates shall be adjusted for cost of living pursuant to procedures in Section 11453. (4) On and after January 1, 2008, the uniform rate to cover the cost of care and supervision of a child pursuant to this section shall be increased by 5 percent, rounded to the nearest dollar. The resulting amount shall constitute the new uniform rate. (5) (A) Commencing July 1, 2016, the uniform rate to cover the cost of care and supervision of a child pursuant to this section shall be supplemented by an additional monthly amount of four hundred eighty-nine dollars ($489). This monthly supplement shall only be provided if funding for this purpose is appropriated in the annual Budget Act. (B) Commencing July 1, 2026, the supplement described in subparagraph (A) shall be adjusted by an amount equal to the California Necessities Index computed pursuant to Section 11453. (d) (1) (A) Prior to July 1, 2017, and notwithstanding subdivisions (a) to (c), inclusive, the payment made pursuant to this section for care and supervision of a child who is living with a teen parent in a whole family foster home, as defined in Section 11400, shall equal the basic rate for children placed in a licensed or approved home as specified in subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, and subdivision (g), of Section 11461. (B) On or after July 1, 2017, the payment made for care and supervision of a child who is living with a teen parent in a whole family foster home shall be the uniform rate developed pursuant to subdivision (c). (2) (A) The amount paid for care and supervision of a dependent infant living with a dependent teen parent receiving AFDC-FC benefits in a group home placement shall equal the infant supplement rate for group home placements. (B) Commencing January 1, 2017, the amount paid for care and supervision of a dependent infant living with a dependent teen parent receiving AFDC-FC benefits in a short-term residential therapeutic program shall equal the infant supplement rate for short-term residential therapeutic programs established by the department. (3) (A) The caregiver shall provide the county child welfare agency or probation department with a copy of the shared responsibility plan developed pursuant to Section 16501.25 and shall advise the county child welfare agency or probation department of any subsequent changes to the plan. Once the plan has been completed and provided to the appropriate agencies, the payment made pursuant to this section shall be increased by an additional two hundred dollars ($200) per month to reflect the increased care and supervision while the dependent teen parent is placed in the whole family foster home. (B) A nonminor dependent parent residing in a supervised independent living placement, as defined in subdivision (w) of Section 11400, who develops a written parenting support plan pursuant to Section 16501.26 shall provide the county child welfare agency or probation department with a copy of the plan and shall advise the county child welfare agency or probation department of any subsequent changes to the plan. The payment made pursuant to this section shall be increased by an additional two hundred dollars ($200) per month after all of the following have been satisfied: (i) The plan has been completed and provided to the appropriate county agency. (ii) The plan has been approved by the appropriate county agency. (iii) The county agency has determined that the identified responsible adult meets the criteria specified in Section 16501.27. (4) In a year in which the payment provided pursuant to this section is adjusted for the cost of living as provided in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c), the payments provided for in this subdivision shall also be increased by the same procedures. (5) A Kin-GAP relative who, immediately prior to entering the Kin-GAP program, was designated as a whole family foster home shall receive the same payment amounts for the care and supervision of a child who is living with a teen parent they received in foster care as a whole family foster home. (6) (A) On and after January 1, 2012, and prior to July 1, 2017, the rate paid for a child living with a teen parent in a whole family foster home as defined in Section 11400 shall also be paid for a child living with a nonminor dependent parent who is eligible to receive AFDC-FC or Kin-GAP benefits pursuant to Section 11403. (B) On and after July 1, 2017, the rate paid for a child living with a teen parent in a whole family foster home as defined in Section 11400 shall also be paid for a child living with a nonminor dependent parent who is eligible to receive AFDC-FC, ARC, or Kin-GAP benefits pursuant to Section 11403. (e) (1) Commencing January 1, 2022, the rate paid for a pregnant minor or nonminor dependent for the three-month period immediately prior to the month in which the birth is anticipated shall include the amount that would otherwise be paid under this section to cover the care and supervision of a child, if born. Any amount paid pursuant to this subdivision shall be an expectant parent payment used to meet the specialized needs of the pregnant minor or nonminor dependent and to properly prepare for the needs of the infant. (2) The department shall work with the County Welfare Directors Association of California and the California Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS) to develop and implement the necessary system changes to implement the expectant parent payment. The payment shall be automated on July 1, 2023, or when the department notifies the Legislature that CalSAWS can perform the necessary automation to implement it, whichever is later. (3) Prior to the automation of the expectant parent payment in the CalSAWS system, counties shall issue a single payment in one lump sum for an expectant minor or nonminor dependent equal to three times the monthly amount paid pursuant to subdivision (a). The payment shall be issued in the month that is three months prior to the expected due date, or as soon as the county agency becomes aware of the pregnancy, and regardless of the date of entry into foster care or outcome of the pregnancy. (4) The payment, or payments, made pursuant to this section shall not be prorated and overpayments shall not be established or collected.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11465.6. Section 11465.6.

(a) Up to five counties selected by the department, and at the discretion of the counties, may implement a countywide program for licensed family homes and relative caregivers receiving payments under this chapter under which they may receive reimbursement for the cost of licensed child care for each foster child under 13 years of age in the care of the licensed family home or the relative caregiver, during any period that any of the following apply: (1) The foster parent or relative caregiver is working outside the home. (2) The foster parent or relative caregiver is participating in foster care training. (3) The foster parent or relative caregiver is fulfilling necessary foster care-related administrative duties, such as conferences and judicial reviews that are not ordinarily parental duties. (b) A foster family home shall only receive a reimbursement for child care that is provided by a licensed provider and if an agreement has been documented in the child’s case plan. (c) The cost for reimbursements authorized by this section shall be shared equally between the state and the county. Funds appropriated pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 17600) of Part 5 shall not be used to meet the county match requirement under this section. (d) The department shall, in consultation with participating counties, establish rates of child care reimbursement under this section. (e) Of the five counties to be selected, the department shall select, at minimum, one large county, one medium county, and one small county, based on population size if a county from each category submits a written expression of its desire to participate. In addition, the department shall give priority to any county that meets both of the following criteria: (1) The county has experienced a net loss in the total number of licensed foster family homes. (2) The county has demonstrated a deficit in the number of licensed foster family beds for the county’s population of foster children requiring out-of-home placement. (f) Each participating county shall report to the department on an annual basis. The information to be reported to the department shall be determined by the department in consultation with the County Welfare Director’s Association. At a minimum, the annual report shall include the number of foster parents claiming a child care reimbursement, the number of children served under this section, and an analysis of the impact of the child care reimbursement on the recruitment and retention of licensed foster home providers. The department shall provide the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature with a report of the use of child care pursuant to this section on or before June 30, 2003. (g) The department may issue emergency regulations for the purpose of implementing this section.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11466. Section 11466.

For purposes of this section to Section 11469.3, inclusive, the following definitions apply: (a) “Provider” shall mean a group home, short-term residential therapeutic program, a foster family agency, and similar foster care business entities. (b) “Audit determination” has the same meaning as “audit finding.” (c) “Financial audit” means an audit conducted by a qualified, independent certified public accountant with an audit designation engaged by the provider and submitted to the department for review. (d) “Fiscal audit” means an audit conducted by the department pursuant to Part 200 (commencing with Section 200.0) of Chapter II of Subtitle A of Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as implemented by the United States Department of Health and Human Services in Part 75 (commencing with Section 75.1) of Subchapter A of Subtitle A of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations, including uniform administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements, as specifically implemented in Section 75.106 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (e) “Performance audit” means an audit conducted by the department to assess provider compliance with performance standards and outcome measures as set forth in Sections 11469, 11469.1, 11469.2, and 11469.3. (f) (1) “Program audit” means an audit conducted by the department of ongoing provider programs to determine whether the program is providing the level of services and maintaining the documentation to support the paid rate.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11466.1. Section 11466.1.

(a) (1) The department shall adopt regulations that specify the type of information requested from providers, including reasonable timeframes. All providers shall upon request of the department for any records, or for any information contained in records pertaining to an individual program, make the requested records or information available to the department for inspection or copying. The information required to be made available pursuant to this section shall include, but not be limited to, information necessary to establish a rate, collect provider sustained overpayments in a timely and efficient manner, or to perform a financial, fiscal, performance, or program audit. This section shall not be construed to modify applicable rules of confidentiality. (2) Providers, upon request of the department, shall allow timely access to a provider’s records and facilities in order to conduct a financial, fiscal, performance, or program audit. (3) Providers shall allow the department immediate access to program information or access to a facility if the deputy director of the children and family services division of the department serves the provider with notice that, in the opinion of the deputy director, the immediate access to a facility or program information is required based on one of the following conditions or circumstances: (A) A temporary suspension order has been served on a provider. (B) Based on reliable evidence, the department has a valid basis for believing that proceedings have been, or will shortly be, instituted against a provider in a state or federal court for purposes of determining whether the provider is insolvent or bankrupt under appropriate state or federal law. (C) A provider is, or will shortly be, taking action that might reasonably hinder or defeat the department’s ability to collect overpayments in the future. (4) The department shall adopt regulations that specify timeframes and penalties for failure to submit requested information or allow facility access that may include reduction or termination of the AFDC-FC rate. Penalties shall not be imposed until the provider has been given a reasonable opportunity to respond or provide access. (b) The department shall apply and enforce only those statutes, regulations, all-county letters, or similar written directives, that are made available to providers, in writing, for any period for which a rate is effective. (c) The department shall consult with representatives of providers concerning the development of those standards and the modification of existing standards. Providers shall receive written notice of, and have the opportunity to comment upon, new and modified standards proposed by the department. (d) The department shall make available to providers, in writing, any new or modified standards prior to the beginning of the period upon which a rate is calculated, if possible, or as quickly as it is administratively practical to do so. Notwithstanding subdivisions (b) and (c), in the event of an unanticipated circumstance or unusual expenditure, the department may exercise its discretion in interpreting what is an allowable or a reasonable expenditure. However, the department shall make those interpretations available to providers, in writing, as quickly as it is practical to do so. (e) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the department may implement, interpret, or make specific Sections 11466 to 11469.3, inclusive, as those sections read on the effective date of the act that added this subdivision, by means of all-county letters or similar written directives, which shall be exempt from submission to or review by the Office of Administrative Law. The all-county letters or similar written directives shall have the same force and effect as regulations until the adoption of regulations, no later than January 1, 2030.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11466.01. Section 11466.01.

(a) Commencing January 1, 2017, a provisional rate shall be set for both of the following providers: (1) A new short-term residential therapeutic program provider. (2) A new foster family agency provider. (b) (1) The provisional rate shall be subject to terms and conditions, including the duration of the provisional period, set by the department. (2) For a provider described in subdivision (a), a provisional rate may be granted for a period of up to 24 months from the date the provider’s license was issued. (c) In determining whether to grant, and upon what conditions to grant, a provisional rate, the department shall consider factors including all of the following: (1) Any licensing history for any license with which the program, or its directors or officers, have been associated. (2) Any financial, fiscal, or compliance audit history with which the program, or its directors or officers, have been associated. (3) Outstanding civil penalties or overpayments with which the program, or its directors or officers, have been associated. (4) Any violations of state or federal law. (d) In determining whether to continue, and upon what conditions to continue, a provisional rate, the department shall consider those factors specified in subdivision (c), as well as compliance with the terms, conditions, and requirements during the provisional period. (e) In determining whether, at the end of the provisional rate period or thereafter, to grant a rate and whether to impose or continue, and upon what conditions to impose or continue, a probationary rate the department shall consider the factors specified in subdivision (c). (f) The department shall establish an administrative review process for determinations, including denial, rate reduction, probation, and termination of the provisional and probationary rates. This process shall include a departmental review, corrective action, and a protest with the department. Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), this process shall be disseminated by written directive pending the promulgation of regulations. (g) (1) (A) For the purposes of this section, a “provisional rate” is a prospective rate given to a provider described in subdivision (a) based on an assurance to perform in accordance with terms and conditions attached to the granting of the provisional rate. (B) For the purposes of this section, a “probationary rate” is a rate upon which limitations and conditions are imposed as a result of violations of terms, conditions, or state or federal law, including those set forth in subdivisions (c) and (d). (2) (A) At the conclusion of a provisional rate, a probationary rate may be imposed, at the discretion of the department, if additional oversight is deemed necessary based on the provider’s performance during the provisional rate period. (B) At any time, a rate may become a probationary rate if additional oversight is deemed necessary based on the provider’s performance in accordance with terms and conditions attached to the granting or maintenance of its rate. (C) A probationary rate may be accompanied by a rate reduction.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11466.2. Section 11466.2.

(a) (1) The department shall perform or have performed provider program and fiscal audits as needed. Provider programs shall maintain all child-specific, programmatic, personnel, fiscal, and other information or records affecting ratesetting and AFDC-FC payments for a period of not less than five years, except that information and records shall be kept for a longer period of time if otherwise required by law. (2) Provider fiscal audits shall be conducted pursuant to Part 200 (commencing with Section 200.0) of Chapter II of Subtitle A of Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as implemented by the United States Department of Health and Human Services in Part 75 (commencing with Section 75.1) of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations, including uniform administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements, as specifically implemented in Section 75.106 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (3) A provider may request a hearing of the department’s program or fiscal audit determination under this section no later than 30 days after the date the department issues its audit determination. A provider may request a hearing to examine any disputed audit determination, including, but not limited to, an audit finding regarding the provider’s internal controls, board of directors oversight, program operation, or a finding that results in an overpayment. The department’s audit determination shall be final if the provider does not request a hearing within the prescribed time. Within 60 days of receipt of the request for hearing, the department shall conduct a hearing on the audit determination. The standard of proof shall be the preponderance of the evidence and the burden of proof shall be on the department. The hearing officer shall issue the proposed decision within 45 days of the close of the evidentiary record. The department shall adopt, reject, or modify the proposed decision, or refer the matter back to the hearing officer for additional evidence or findings within 100 days of issuance of the proposed decision. If the department takes no action on the proposed decision within the prescribed time, the proposed decision shall take effect by operation of law. (b) (1) The department shall develop regulations to require corrective action to a program’s or provider’s operation as a result of program or fiscal audit findings, to adjust the rate, and to recover any overpayments resulting from an overstatement of the projected level of care and services or overpayments or disallowed costs resulting from other audit findings. (2) Any repeat fiscal audit findings may result in a monetary penalty or rate reduction, suspension, or termination of the provider’s rate in accordance with regulations adopted by the department, all-county letters, or similar written instructions. (c) (1) In any audit conducted by the department, the department, or other public or private audit agency with which the department contracts, shall coordinate with the department’s licensing and ratesetting entities so that a consistent set of standards, rules, and auditing protocols are maintained. The department, or other public or private audit agency with which the department contracts, shall make available to all providers, in writing, any standards, rules, and auditing protocols to be used in those audits. (2) The department shall provide exit interviews with providers, whenever deficiencies are found, and shall explain the deficiencies and permit providers an opportunity to respond. The department shall adopt regulations, all-county letters, or similar written directives specifying the procedure for the appeal of program and fiscal audit findings. (d) Nothing in this section shall preclude the department from revoking the license of, or initiating legal proceedings against, a provider that has violated relevant laws and regulations.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11466.3. Section 11466.3.

(a) The department shall offer a voluntary repayment agreement procedure to providers that owe a sustained overpayment. A provider may enter into a voluntary repayment agreement with the department to repay a sustained overpayment. The voluntary repayment agreement shall, at a minimum, meet the requirements developed pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 11466.22. (b) The department shall charge simple interest on the voluntary repayment agreement in accordance with paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 11466.22.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11466.5. Section 11466.5.

The department shall collect cost data and monitor the cost of providing care and supervision, and social work services, to AFDC-FC recipients. These data shall include, but not be limited to, the costs incurred for employee wages and benefits.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11466.6. Section 11466.6.

A provider who disagrees with the rate determined by the department, the rate adjusted by an audit, or a determination made in a management decision letter affecting the rate may request in writing an appeal to the department. The department shall maintain, by regulation, all-county letter, or similar written directive, procedures for the departmental appeal process.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11466.21. Section 11466.21.

(a) In accordance with subdivision (b), as a condition to receive an AFDC-FC rate for a foster care program operated by a provider, as defined in Section 11466, the following shall apply: (1) Any provider who expends in combined federal funds an amount at or above the federal funding threshold in accordance with the federal Single Audit Act, as amended, and Section 200.501 of Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as implemented by the United States Department of Health and Human Services in Section 75.501 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations, shall arrange to have a financial audit conducted on an annual basis, and shall submit the financial audit to the department in accordance with regulations adopted by the department, all-county letter, or similar written instructions. (2) Any provider who expends in combined federal funds an amount below the federal funding threshold shall annually submit a financial audit to the department pursuant to Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS), and shall submit the financial audit to the department in accordance with regulations adopted by the department, all-county letter, or similar written instructions. (3) The scope of the financial audit shall include all of the programs and activities operated by the provider and shall not be limited to those funded in whole or in part by the AFDC-FC program. The financial audits shall include, but not be limited to, an evaluation of the expenditures and accounting and control systems of the provider. (4) The provider shall have its financial audit conducted by certified public accountants or by state-licensed public accountants, with audit designation, who have no direct or indirect relationship with the functions or activities being audited, or with the provider, its board of directors, or other governing body, officers, or staff. (5) The provider shall have its financial audits conducted in accordance with Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States and in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles applicable to private entities organized and operated on a nonprofit basis. (6) (A) Each provider shall have the flexibility to define the calendar months included in its fiscal year. (B) A provider may change the definition of its fiscal year. However, the financial audit conducted following the change shall cover all of the months since the last audit, even though this may cover a period that exceeds 12 months. (b) (1) In accordance with subdivision (a), as a condition to receive an AFDC-FC rate, a provider shall submit a copy of its most recent financial audit report, except as provided in paragraph (3). (2) The department shall terminate the rate of a provider who fails to submit a copy of its most recent financial audit pursuant to subdivision (a). A terminated rate shall only be reinstated upon the provider’s submission to the department of an acceptable financial audit. (3) A new provider that has been incorporated for fewer than 12 calendar months shall not be required to submit a copy of a financial audit to receive an AFDC-FC rate for a new program. The financial audit shall be conducted on the provider’s next full fiscal year of operation. The provider shall submit the financial audit to the department in accordance with subdivision (a). (c) The department shall issue a management decision letter on audit findings resulting from a financial audit, made by the independent auditor or as a result of department review, within six months of receipt of the financial audit report. The management decision letter shall clearly state whether or not the audit finding is sustained, the reasons for the decision, and the action or actions expected of the nonprofit organization provider to repay disallowed costs, make financial adjustments, or take other action. (d) Repeated late submission of financial audits, repeat findings in financial audits, or failure to comply with corrective action in a management decision letter may result in monetary penalties or a reduction, suspension, or termination of the provider’s rate in accordance with regulations adopted by the department, all-county letter, or similar written instructions. This subdivision shall not be construed to affect the department’s authority under other provisions of law, including, but not limited to, Part 200 of Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as implemented by the United States Department of Health and Human Services in Part 75 (commencing with Section 75.1) of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (e) The procedures for the departmental appeal and hearing process set forth in Section 11466.2 shall apply for audit findings in a management decision letter resulting from a financial audit pursuant to this section.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11466.22. Section 11466.22.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to ensure overall program integrity in the AFDC-FC program through the establishment of an effective and efficient process for the collection of provider sustained overpayments. Furthermore, the intent of the Legislature is to ensure that children placed in AFDC-FC programs, including, but not limited to, group homes, short-term residential therapeutic programs, and foster family agencies, receive the level of care and supervision commensurate with the program’s paid rate. (b) The department may collect a sustained overpayment from the party responsible for the sustained overpayment, regardless of whether the party remains in the business of providing any AFDC-FC programs, and regardless of whether the provider remains licensed by the department. (c) For the purposes of this section, a provider overpayment is an overpayment that results from an audit period when a provider receives a rate reimbursement to which it is not entitled. If a provider receives a rate reimbursement to which it is not entitled, including, but not limited to, the provider failing to maintain a license, or failing to maintain its status as a nonprofit organization, or due to an overpayment determined as described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (d), it shall be liable to repay the overpayment. (d) (1) Overpayments shall be determined by a provider audit pursuant to Section 11466.21, a department audit conducted pursuant to Section 11466.2, a management decision letter, or a provider self-reporting an overpayment. A self-reported overpayment may include a finding in the financial audit report submitted by the provider whether that finding is formally made in the financial audit report or discovered through department review of the report or other provider submission. (2) If a hearing is not requested, or on the 60th day after an informal decision if a provider or the department does not file a notice of intent to file a formal appeal, or on the 30th day following a formal appeal hearing decision, whichever is latest, a provider overpayment shall be sustained for collection purposes and the department shall issue a demand letter for repayment of the sustained overpayment. (3) The department shall establish a voluntary repayment agreement procedure with a maximum repayment period of nine years. The procedure shall take into account the amount of the overpayment, projected annual income of the program that caused the overpayment, a minimum repayment amount, including principal and interest, of 3 percent of annual income prorated on a monthly basis, simple interest for the first seven years of the voluntary repayment agreement on the overpayment amount based on the Surplus Money Investment Fund, and simple interest for the eighth and ninth years of the voluntary repayment agreement based on the prime rate at that time plus 3 percent. The department may consider renegotiation of a voluntary repayment agreement if the department determines that the agreement would cause severe harm to children in placement. (4) The department shall establish an involuntary overpayment collection procedure, that shall take into account the amount of the overpayment, projected annual income, a minimum required repayment amount, including principal and interest, of 5 percent of the annual income prorated on a monthly basis, simple interest on the overpayment amount based on the Surplus Money Investment Fund, and a maximum repayment period of seven years. The department may consider renegotiation of an involuntary payment agreement if the department determines that the agreement would cause severe harm to children in placement. (e) The department shall maintain, by regulation, all-county letter, or similar written directive, a procedure for recovery of any provider sustained overpayments. The department shall prioritize collection methods, which shall include voluntary repayment agreement procedures, involuntary overpayment collection procedures, including the use of a statutory lien, rate request denials, rate decreases, and rate terminations. The department may also deny rate requests, including requests for rate increases, or program changes or expansions, while an overpayment is due. The department shall seek recovery of provider sustained overpayments in a manner that does not jeopardize overall availability of placements for foster children. (f) Whenever the department determines that a provider sustained overpayment has occurred, the department shall recover from the provider the full amount of the sustained overpayment, and simple interest on the sustained overpayment amount, pursuant to methods described in subdivision (e), against the provider’s income or assets. (g) If a provider is successful in its appeal of a collected overpayment, it shall be repaid the collected overpayment plus simple interest based on the Surplus Money Investment Fund.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11466.23. Section 11466.23.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to comply with the federal requirements of the Improper Payments Act of 2002 with respect to the remittance of the federal share of foster care or adoption assistance overpayments. (b) For the purposes of this section, “foster care or adoption assistance overpayment” means any amount of aid paid to which a foster care provider or adoption assistance recipient was not entitled, including any overpayment identified by a foster care provider as described in Section 11400, or federal Adoption Assistance Program recipient as described in Chapter 2.1 (commencing with Section 16115) of Part 4, and on and after the date that the director executes a declaration pursuant to Section 11217, any federal Kin-GAP aid paid to which a related guardian was not entitled, including any overpayment identified by a federal Kin-GAP recipient as described in Article 4.7 (commencing with Section 11385). (c) Counties shall be required to remit the appropriate amount of federal funds upon identification of the overpayment, following the completion of due process. (1) For overpayments identified prior to July 1, 2012, counties shall not be required to repay the overpayment when any of the following occurs: (A) The amount is legally uncollectible, including any amount legally uncollectible pursuant to Section 11466.24. (B) The cost of collection exceeds the overpayment. (C) The provider is no longer in business or licensed by the department. (2) For overpayments identified prior to July 1, 2012, remittance of overpayments of federal AFDC-FC, federal Kin-GAP, and federal AAP funds not excluded by paragraph (1) shall be shared by the state and the counties based on the following sharing ratios: (A) For federal AFDC-FC funds, the sharing ratios described in subdivision (c) of Section 15200. (B) For federal Kin-GAP funds, the sharing ratios described in Section 10101.2. (C) For federal AAP funds, the sharing ratios described in subdivision (e) of Section 15200. (d) (1) For overpayments identified on and after July 1, 2012, the county shall pay 100 percent of the cost for remittance of all overpayments of federal AFDC-FC, federal Kin-GAP, and federal AAP funds. (2) For overpayments identified prior to July 1, 2012, upon actual collection of any overpayments from providers or recipients, the county shall ensure that the total amount reimbursed to the state reflects the federal and state share of the overpayment costs, as specified. All overpayments of federal AFDC-FC, federal Kin-GAP, and federal AAP funds included in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) shall be repaid completely with state funds. (3) For overpayments identified on and after July 1, 2012, after remitting the federal share, the county shall retain any funds collected by the county from overpaid providers or recipients. (4) Nothing in this section shall inhibit existing county authority to collect overpayments. (5) Nothing in this section shall inhibit existing county responsibility to remit voluntary overpayments upon collection. (e) (1) The department shall adopt regulations to implement this section by December 31, 2008. Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department, in consultation and coordination with the County Welfare Directors Association, may adopt emergency regulations to implement this section. (2) The adoption of emergency regulations pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or general welfare. The emergency regulations authorized by this section shall be submitted to the Office of Administrative Law for filing with the Secretary of State and shall remain in effect for no more than 180 days, by which time final regulations shall be adopted. (f) The department may only require counties to remit payment of the federal share for overpayments upon identification that occur on or after the effective date of regulations adopted pursuant to this section.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11466.24. Section 11466.24.

(a) In accordance with this section, a county shall collect an overpayment, discovered on or after January 1, 1999, made to a foster family home, an approved home of a relative, including, on and after the date that the director executes a declaration pursuant to Section 11217, the home of a Kin-GAP guardian, an approved home of a nonrelative extended family member, an approved home of a nonrelative legal guardian, a resource family, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 16519.5, or the supervised independent living setting where a nonminor dependent resides, for any period of time in which the foster child was not cared for in that home, unless any of the following conditions exist, in which case a county shall not collect the overpayment: (1) The cost of the collection exceeds that amount of the overpayment that is likely to be recovered by the county. The cost of collecting the overpayment and the likelihood of collection shall be documented by the county. Costs that the county shall consider when determining the cost-effectiveness to collect are total administrative, personnel, legal filing fee, and investigative costs, and any other applicable costs. (2) The child was temporarily removed from the home and payment was owed to the provider to maintain the child’s placement, or the child was temporarily absent from the provider’s home, or on runaway status and subsequently returned, and payment was made to the provider to meet the child’s needs. (3) The overpayment was exclusively the result of a county administrative error or both the county welfare department and the provider or nonminor dependent were unaware of the information that would establish that the foster child or nonminor dependent was not eligible for foster care benefits. (4) The provider or nonminor dependent did not have knowledge of, and did not contribute to, the cause of the overpayment. (b) (1) After notification by a county of an overpayment to a foster family home, an approved home of a relative, including the home of a Kin-GAP guardian, or a nonrelative extended family member, approved home of a nonrelative legal guardian, a resource family, or the supervised independent living setting where the nonminor dependent resides, and a demand letter for repayment, the foster parent, approved relative, approved nonrelative legal guardian, resource family, or nonminor dependent may request the county welfare department to review the overpayment determination in an informal hearing, or may file with the department a request for a hearing to appeal the overpayment determination. Requesting an informal hearing shall not preclude a payee from seeking a formal hearing at a later date. The county welfare department shall dismiss the overpayment repayment request if it determines the action to be incorrect through an initial review prior to a state hearing, or through a review in an informal hearing held at the request of the foster parent, relative, nonrelative legal guardian, or nonminor dependent. (2) If an informal hearing does not result in the dismissal of the overpayment, or a formal appeal hearing is not requested, or on the 30th day following a formal appeal hearing decision, whichever is later, the foster family provider overpayment shall be sustained for collection purposes. (3) The department shall adopt regulations that ensure that the best interests of the child or nonminor dependent shall be the primary concern of the county welfare director in any repayment agreement. (c) (1) The department shall develop regulations for recovery of overpayments made to any foster family home, approved home of a relative, including the home of a Kin-GAP guardian, approved home of a nonrelative legal guardian, resource family, or supervised independent living setting where a nonminor dependent resides. The regulations shall prioritize collection methods, that shall include voluntary repayment agreement procedures and involuntary overpayment collection procedures. These procedures shall take into account the amount of the overpayment and a minimum required payment amount. (2) A county shall not collect an overpayment through the use of an involuntary payment agreement unless a foster family home, an approved home of a relative, including the home of a Kin-GAP guardian, approved home of a nonrelative legal guardian, resource family, or supervised independent living setting where a nonminor dependent resides has rejected the offer of a voluntary overpayment agreement, or has failed to comply with the terms of the voluntary overpayment agreement. (3) A county shall not be permitted to collect an overpayment through the offset of payments due to a foster family home, an approved home of a relative, including the home of a Kin-GAP guardian, approved home of a nonrelative legal guardian, resource family, or supervised independent living setting where a nonminor dependent resides, unless this method of repayment is requested by the provider or nonminor dependent in a voluntary repayment agreement, or other circumstances defined by the department by regulation. (d) If a provider or nonminor dependent is successful in its appeal of a collected overpayment, it shall be repaid the collected overpayment plus simple interest based on the Surplus Money Investment Fund. (e) A county may not collect interest on the repayment of an overpayment. (f) There shall be a one-year statute of limitations from the date upon which the county determined that there was an overpayment.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11466.25. Section 11466.25.

Interest begins to accrue on a provider overpayment or penalty on the date of the issuance of the penalty, the date of issuance of the final audit report, or the date of the issuance of a management decision letter in accordance with Section 11466.21, or the date that a provider self-reports an overpayment.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11466.31. Section 11466.31.

(a) When it has been determined that a provider participating in the AFDC-FC program owes an overpayment that is due and payable, the department may implement involuntary offset collection procedures to collect sustained overpayments from a provider if the provider does not enter into a voluntary repayment agreement with the department or the provider has three outstanding payments on a voluntary repayment agreement before the overpayment is repaid. (b) The minimum monthly overpayment offset amount from monthly rate reimbursements shall be determined using the involuntary collection procedures developed pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of Section 11466.22. Overpayments shall be offset against current monthly rate reimbursement payments due and payable to a provider under this chapter. (c) Failure to repay an overpayment shall be grounds for termination of the provider’s rate and shall result in a referral to the department’s Community Care Licensing Division for license revocation.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11466.32. Section 11466.32.

(a) If a provider that owes a sustained overpayment pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 11466.22 does not enter into a voluntary repayment agreement with the department, or the provider has three outstanding payments on a voluntary repayment agreement before the overpayment is repaid, in addition to the monthly overpayment offset amount, 50 percent of any increases resulting from California Necessities Index (CNI) adjustments and provider’s rate adjustments to the standard rate that are due to a provider shall be withheld until the sustained overpayment amount is collected. Once the overpayment amount is collected, the provider shall begin to prospectively receive the full amount of any California Necessities Index and rate adjustment to which it is entitled. (b) Any provider subject to involuntary repayment of a sustained overpayment pursuant to Section 11466.31 shall be ineligible to receive any rate increase or program change or expansion, until the repayment is completed or until the host county or the primary placement county provide the department with a request for waiver of this paragraph.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11466.33. Section 11466.33.

(a) If any amount is due and payable to the department as a result of a sustained overpayment to a provider for care and services in the AFDC-FC program, the department may file, in the office of any county clerk of any county in which the provider has real or personal property, a certificate if any of the following conditions are met: (1) No formal hearing is requested, the provider has not submitted a voluntary repayment agreement with the first payment, and 60 days have elapsed from the notice of audit results. (2) The provider has not submitted a voluntary repayment agreement along with the first payment, 30 days have elapsed after an adverse appeal decision by a hearing officer sustaining an overpayment, and that decision has been adopted by the department or is effective by operation of law. (b) The certificate provided for pursuant to subdivision (a) shall contain: (1) The amount due, owing, and unpaid, plus simple interest on the amount owing and unpaid beginning on the date the certificate is filed. (2) A statement that the department has complied with this section prior to the filing of the certificate. (3) A request that a lien be recorded against the provider in the amount set forth in the certificate. (c) The county clerk immediately upon the filing of the certificate shall record the lien for the State of California against the provider in the amount set forth in the certificate. The lien may be filed in the chain of title of the property. (d) The department shall pay the cost of the first lien, and providers shall be responsible for any subsequent liens on a sustained overpayment. (e) For the first certificate filed by the department pursuant to this section, the county shall waive all filing fees.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11466.34. Section 11466.34.

(a) (1) At any time within 10 years of the recording of a lien pursuant to Section 11466.33, the department may bring an action, in a superior court in the county in which the lien is filed, seeking a judgment to establish the lien as a judgment lien. (2) If a judgment is obtained pursuant to paragraph (1), the county recorder shall record the lien as a judgment lien. (b) An abstract of a judgment obtained pursuant to subdivision (a) or a copy thereof may be recorded with the county recorder of any county. From the time of recording, the judgment shall constitute a lien upon all real or personal property of the provider in that county owned by the provider at the time, or that the provider may afterwards, but before the lien expires, acquire. The judgment lien shall continue for 10 years from the time of recording of the abstract of judgment obtained pursuant to subdivision (a), unless sooner released or otherwise discharged. (c) The judgment lien may, within 10 years from the date of recording of the abstract of judgment or within 10 years from the date of the last extension of the lien in the manner provided in this section, be extended by recording a new abstract in the office of the county recorder of any county. From the date of that recording, the lien shall be extended for 10 years, unless sooner released or otherwise discharged. (d) The department may release any lien imposed pursuant to this chapter, at the provider’s cost, in which case any judgment pertaining to that lien is for all purposes null and void, if all of the following conditions are met: (1) No temporary suspension order or license revocation actions by the department’s community care licensing division is pending against a provider. (2) A provider has made at least three timely payments on a voluntary repayment agreement. (3) The provider submits to the department corroborative evidence that it is unable to obtain a loan from an institutional lender unless the lien is released. (e) Execution shall issue upon a judgment obtained pursuant to this section upon request of the department in the same manner as execution may issue upon other judgments. Sale shall be held under that execution as prescribed in the Code of Civil Procedure. In all proceedings under this section, the director or his or her authorized agents may act on behalf of the state.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11466.35. Section 11466.35.

(a) Any licensee or member of a governing board of a nonprofit who has been determined to owe a sustained overpayment under this chapter, and who, subsequent to notice of the sustained overpayment, has its rate terminated, shall be ineligible to apply or receive a rate for any future program until the overpayment is repaid. (b) A rate application shall be denied for a provider that meets either of the following conditions: (1) A provider owing a sustained overpayment under this chapter, upon the occurrence of any additional sustained overpayment, shall be ineligible to apply or receive a rate for an existing or future program until the sustained overpayments are repaid, unless a voluntary repayment agreement is approved by the department. (2) A provider incurring a sustained overpayment that constitutes more than 60 percent of the provider’s annual rate reimbursement shall be ineligible to apply or receive a rate for any existing or future programs until the sustained overpayments are repaid, unless a voluntary repayment agreement is approved by the department.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11466.36. Section 11466.36.

(a) The department may terminate a program rate or a provider’s eligibility to be paid any rate for a child placed in their care if any of the following conditions are met: (1) The department determines that, based upon the findings of a hearing officer, a rate application or information submitted by a provider was fraudulently submitted to the department. (2) A provider is failing to provide services in accordance with the standards associated with its paid rate or in accordance with its program statement. (3) A provider with an outstanding sustained overpayment incurs a second sustained overpayment, and is unable to repay the sustained overpayments. (4) A provider has a sustained overpayment that represents 100 percent of a provider’s annual rate reimbursement. (5) A provider has a sustained overpayment and has failed to timely submit its payments on more than three occasions in a 12-month period. (6) For a provider operating a short-term residential therapeutic program or a community treatment facility, the program or facility is no longer accredited as required by state law. (b) This chapter shall not be construed to affect the department’s authority under other provisions of law for collection of provider sustained overpayments. (c) A provider who disagrees with the department’s determination under this section may request an appeal pursuant to Section 11466.6.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11466.235. Section 11466.235.

(a) The department, in consultation and coordination with the County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA), shall update existing regulations and establish new regulations where lacking for the identification, determination, tracking, notification, and collection of foster care and adoption assistance overpayments by county agencies to foster care providers or adoption assistance recipients, and shall specify the required actions of county agencies, as appropriate, to recoup overpayments. In addition, the department, in consultation with the CWDA, shall develop specific processes to implement collection and repayment of overpaid federal AFDC-FC funds, including the development of a Notice of Action (NOA), due process procedures, voluntary repayment procedures, involuntary repayment procedures, and the accrual of interest. It is the intent of the Legislature that the recovery of unauthorized funds is done in a manner that does not jeopardize overall availability of placements for foster or adoptive children or the best interests of the foster or adoptive child. (b) (1) No later than October 1, 2007, the department shall implement a process to obtain all necessary state approvals of advanced planning documents for counties to implement automated solutions designed to minimize overpayments, and to submit the documents to the appropriate federal authority within 30 days of original submission by the county to the state. The process shall include a template to be used by counties for expedited state and federal approval of advanced planning documents designed to minimize overpayments. (2) No later than December 31, 2007, the department shall implement a process for counties to obtain, at no charge, all necessary data from the Child Welfare Services Case Management System (CWS/CMS) to implement automated solutions designed to minimize overpayments, such as the system used by Alameda County, or a similar solution. The department shall notify the budget committees of the Legislature and the CWDA by October 1, 2007, if the department believes that the extract of this data could jeopardize the structural and data integrity of the information within the CWS/CMS. The department shall work with CWDA to mitigate these risks, if found. (c) (1) The department shall modify existing regulations and adopt new regulations to implement this section by December 31, 2008. Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department, in consultation with the CWDA, may adopt emergency regulations to implement this section. (2) The adoption of emergency regulations pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or general welfare. The emergency regulations authorized by this section shall be submitted to the Office of Administrative Law for filing with the Secretary of State and shall remain in effect for no more than 180 days, by which time final regulations shall be adopted.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11467. Section 11467.

(a) The State Department of Social Services, with the advice and assistance of the County Welfare Directors Association of California, the Chief Probation Officers of California, the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California, research entities, foster youth and advocates for foster youth, foster care provider business entities organized and operated on a nonprofit basis, tribes, and other stakeholders, shall establish a working group to develop performance standards and outcome measures for providers of out-of-home care placements made under the AFDC-FC program, including, but not limited to, foster family agency, group home, short-term residential therapeutic program, and THP-Plus providers, and for the effective and efficient administration of the AFDC-FC program. (b) (1) The performance standards and outcome measures shall employ the applicable performance standards and outcome measures as set forth in Sections 11469 to 11469.3, inclusive, designed to identify the degree to which foster care providers, including business entities organized and operated on a nonprofit basis, are providing out-of-home placement services that meet the needs of foster children, and the degree to which these services are supporting improved outcomes, including those identified by the California Child and Family Service Review System. (2) Providers shall maintain, for licensing, ratesetting, and placement purposes, program statements, as required pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1500) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code, and all applicable written directives and regulations adopted by the department. (c) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), until the enactment of applicable state law, or October 1, 2015, whichever is earlier, the department may implement the changes made pursuant to this section through all-county letters, or similar instructions from the director.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11467.1. Section 11467.1.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that standards be developed to address the specific needs of very young children, from birth to six years of age, experiencing the trauma of separation from their family who must be placed in out-of-home care. These standards shall provide normative guidelines differentiated by the needs specific to infants from birth to two years of age, toddlers from two years of age to four years of age, and preschool from four years of age to six years of age and shall reflect the needs of all children for a family-like setting that provides culturally appropriate nurturing, and safety. (b) The department shall assess the needs of young children and adopt standards in consultation with interested parties that shall include the following: (1) A representative of a public interest law firm specializing in children’s issues. (2) A representative of an advocacy group representing children with developmental disabilities. (3) A representative of the California Association of Children’s Homes. (4) A representative of the Association for Minority Adolescents in Residential Care Homes. (5) A representative of the California Association of Services for Children. (6) A representative of the County Welfare Directors Association. (7) A representative of the National Association of Social Workers. (8) A developmental psychologist specializing in children in shelter care. (9) A psychiatrist specializing in the emotional development of young children. (10) A pediatrician. (11) An expert in family reunification issues. (12) A specialist in the treatment of alcohol and other drug abuse. (13) A representative of the Child Welfare League of America. (14) A representative of the State Department of Developmental Services. (15) A representative of the Association of Regional Center Agencies. (c) The department shall develop standards that include, but are not limited to, all of the following: (1) The elements of a safe nurturing environment that support all aspects of a child’s development and provide opportunities to establish primary, trusting relationships with a carefully limited number of adults. (2) Psychosocial needs, primary care, parental visits, developmental support, trauma recovery, appropriate discipline, and flexibility in daily activities. (3) Guidelines for services to be provided pursuant to a case plan. (4) To the maximum extent feasible, the requirement that significant placement changes be minimized, and that they be carefully planned and implemented. (d) The standards shall be incorporated to the extent feasible into provider program statements required pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 11467.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11468. Section 11468.

The department shall establish and maintain administrative procedures to review the rate set by the department for AFDC-FC programs, including, but not limited to, group homes, short-term residential therapeutic programs, and foster family agencies that provide treatment services.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11468.1. Section 11468.1.

The administrative review procedure for rates established pursuant to Section 11468 shall include a protest within the department and a hearing conducted by a hearing officer appointed by the director.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11468.2. Section 11468.2.

(a) A provider who disagrees with a rate determination and who desires a different rate, or who has been denied a rate or had a rate terminated, may file a protest with the department within 60 days from the date of the mailing of the notification of the set rate. The protest shall include all information including documentation for the department to determine the provider’s basis for requesting a different set rate or challenge of the audit findings that affect the rate. The department may request additional documentation or information from the provider after reviewing the protest. (b) Within 90 days of receipt of the final documentation or information, the department shall issue a decision letter indicating the department’s decision on the protest which shall include the department’s basis for the action taken. This time period may be extended by the department for good cause. (c) If the provider does not concur with the rate protest decision letter, a written appeal may be filed with the department within 60 days of receipt of the decision letter. The appeal shall be accompanied with full supporting documentation. The department may request additional information.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11468.3. Section 11468.3.

(a) The appeal filed with the department pursuant to Section 11468.2 shall specify whether the provider does or does not wish that an informal conference among the parties be held, together with the reasons therefor. Either party may request, or the hearing officer may order, that a telephone conference call be initiated among the parties for discussion of the advisability of conducting an informal conference. The hearing officer shall decide whether an informal conference would be appropriate and notify the parties of this decision in writing. (b) If the hearing officer determines that an informal conference is appropriate, it shall be ordered and scheduled as soon as reasonably possible. The hearing officer shall preside at this informal conference. (c) The department shall mail written notice of the time and place of the informal conference to each party at least 10 calendar days before the date of the informal conference. This period may be shortened with the consent of the parties. Any party may waive notice. (d) Efforts shall be made to resolve the facts and issues in dispute in a fair and equitable manner, subject to the requirements of state and federal law.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11468.4. Section 11468.4.

(a) The hearing regarding a rate held pursuant to Section 11468.1 shall be conducted no later than 180 days after the filing of a timely and specific statement of disputed issues by the provider. (b) The hearing officer shall take the matter under submission at the conclusion of the hearing. A proposed decision, in a form that may be adopted as the decision of the department, shall be submitted to the department within 180 days after the closure of the record. (c) Within 120 days after submission of the hearing officer’s proposed decision, the department shall: (1) Adopt the proposed decision with or without reading or hearing the record. (2) Reject the proposed decision and adopt an alternative decision based upon the documentary and electronically recorded record, with or without taking additional evidence. (3) Refer the matter to the same or a different hearing officer to take additional evidence. If the case is so assigned, the hearing officer shall, within 90 days, prepare a proposed decision, based upon the additional evidence and the documentary and electronically recorded record of the prior hearing. The department may then take one of the actions described in subdivision (c) in regard to the new proposed decision. The department may return a proposed decision only twice on the same appeal. (d) (1) The department’s decision shall be final when the decision is mailed to the parties. However, the department retains jurisdiction to correct clerical errors. (2) Copies of the final decision of the department, and the hearing officer’s proposed decision if it was not adopted by the department, shall be mailed by certified mail to the parties.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11468.5. Section 11468.5.

The provider may request review of the final decision of the department made pursuant to Section 11468.4 in accordance with Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure, within six months of the issuance of the director’s final decision.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11469. Section 11469.

(a) The department shall develop, following consultation with group home providers, the County Welfare Directors Association of California, the Chief Probation Officers of California, the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California, the State Department of Health Care Services, and stakeholders, performance standards and outcome measures for determining the effectiveness of the care and supervision, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 11460, provided by group homes under the AFDC-FC program pursuant to Sections 11460 and 11462. These standards shall be designed to measure group home program performance for the client group that the group home program is designed to serve. (1) The performance standards and outcome measures shall be designed to measure the performance of group home programs in areas over which the programs have some degree of influence, and in other areas of measurable program performance that the department can demonstrate are areas over which group home programs have meaningful managerial or administrative influence. (2) These standards and outcome measures shall include, but are not limited to, the effectiveness of services provided by each group home program, and the extent to which the services provided by the group home assist in obtaining the child welfare case plan objectives for achieving the desired outcomes in safety, permanency, and well-being for the child. (3) In addition, when the group home provider has identified as part of its program for licensing, ratesetting, or county placement purposes, or has included as a part of a child’s case plan by mutual agreement between the group home and the placing agency, specific mental health, education, medical, and other child-related services, the performance standards and outcome measures may also measure the effectiveness of those services. (b) Regulations regarding the implementation of the group home performance standards system required by this section shall be adopted no later than one year prior to implementation. The regulations shall specify both the performance standards system and the manner by which the AFDC-FC rate of a group home program shall be adjusted if performance standards are not met. (c) Effective July 1, 1995, group home performance standards shall be implemented. (d) Notwithstanding subdivision (c), the group home program performance standards system shall not be implemented prior to the implementation of the AFDC-FC performance standards system. (e) On or before January 1, 2016, the department shall develop, following consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association of California, the Chief Probation Officers of California, the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California, research entities, foster children, advocates for foster children, foster care provider business entities organized and operated on a nonprofit basis, Indian tribes, and other stakeholders, additional performance standards and outcome measures that require group homes to implement programs and services to minimize law enforcement contacts and delinquency petition filings arising from incidents of allegedly unlawful behavior by minors occurring in group homes or under the supervision of group home staff, including individualized behavior management programs, emergency intervention plans, and conflict resolution processes. (f) On or before January 1, 2017, the department shall develop, following consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association of California, the Chief Probation Officers of California, the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California, the Medical Board of California, research entities, foster children advocates for foster children, foster care provider business entities organized and operated on a nonprofit basis, Indian tribes, and other stakeholders, additional performance standards and outcome measures that require group homes and short-term residential therapeutic programs to implement alternative programs and services, including individualized behavior management programs, emergency intervention plans, and conflict resolution processes. (g) Performance standards and outcome measures developed pursuant to this section shall apply to short-term residential therapeutic programs. (h) The department shall develop and implement a technical assistance and support plan, in consultation with the stakeholders identified in subdivision (a), that utilizes the performance standards and outcome measures to identify and assist low performing providers. (i) The department shall coordinate with other state agencies, and may execute agreements as necessary, to obtain data necessary to fulfill the requirements of this section.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11469.1. Section 11469.1.

The performance standards and outcome measures required by Section 11469 shall meet all of the following requirements: (a) They shall include indicators of quality of care, including, but not limited to, stability of placement, reduction in recidivism, educational progress, and improvement in social behavior, and shall not consist solely of fiscal indicators, such as cost-avoidance due to reduction or avoidance of out-of-home care. (b) They shall apply to all providers of out-of-home care, including, but not limited to, providers of services provided either directly by, or under contract with, a county welfare department or county probation department. (c) They shall be used to develop baseline standards against which to measure future performance and to provide a basis for making comparisons among different programs and placements.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11469.2. Section 11469.2.

(a) The department shall develop, following consultation with foster family agency providers, the County Welfare Directors Association of California, the Chief Probation Officers of California, the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California, the State Department of Health Care Services, former foster youth, child advocacy organizations, and stakeholders, performance standards and outcome measures for determining the effectiveness of the care and supervision, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 11460, provided to children in out-of-home family based care placements pursuant to Sections 11460 and 11463 and Chapter 6.3 (commencing with Section 18360) of Part 6. These standards shall be designed to measure outcomes for the client and the performance of programs in areas over which the service provider or a county acting in the capacity of, or is licensed as, a service provider has meaningful managerial or administrative influence. (1) These standards and outcome measures shall include, but are not limited to, the effectiveness of services provided by each program, and the extent to which the services provided by the programs assist in obtaining the child welfare case plan objectives for achieving the desired outcomes in safety, permanency, and well-being for the child. (2) In addition, when the provider has identified as part of its program for licensing, ratesetting, or county placement purposes, or has included as a part of a child’s case plan by mutual agreement between the program and the placing agency, specific mental health, education, medical, and other child-related services, the performance standards and outcome measures may also measure the effectiveness of those services. (b) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), these performance standards and outcome measures shall be set forth in written directives until regulations are adopted. (c) The department shall develop and implement a technical assistance and support plan, in consultation with stakeholders identified in subdivision (a), that utilizes the performance standards and outcome measures to identify and assist low performing service providers. (d) The department shall coordinate with other state agencies, and may execute agreements as necessary, to obtain data necessary to fulfill the requirements of this section.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11469.3. Section 11469.3.

The performance standards and outcome measures required by Section 11469.2 shall meet all of the following requirements: (a) They shall include indicators of quality of care, including, but not limited to, stability of placement, reduction in recidivism, educational progress, and improvement in social behavior, and shall not consist solely of fiscal indicators, such as cost-avoidance due to reduction or avoidance of out-of-home care. (b) They shall apply to providers of services provided either directly by, or under contract with, a county welfare department or county probation department. (c) They shall be used to develop baseline standards against which to measure future performance and to provide a basis for making comparisons among different programs and placements.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026