Officials and advocates discuss foster care coordination, mandated reporter training and options for permanent guaranteed income pilots

The subcommittee heard updates on foster care coordination, mandated reporter training proposals and the state's guaranteed income pilot program that targets former foster youth and pregnant people.

Jennifer Troyer, speaking for the California Department of Social Services, recapped existing multi‑agency efforts including Assembly Bill 2083, state system‑of‑care teams, local memoranda of understanding, a complex care steering committee and the Child Welfare Council. "We highlighted in the prior hearing on this item a number of efforts that are underway," Troyer said, and she offered to provide updated fiscal scoring on the foster care multi‑agency office item after consulting with the Department of Finance.

On mandated reporter training, Troyer said the department is working to implement recommendations from the Mandated Reporter Training and Community Supporting Task Force and will provide a fiscal estimate soon. She told the committee the department expects "costs ... in the low millions of dollars one time and then hundreds of thousands of dollars ongoing," to cover training delivery and social worker time.

Guaranteed income: Troyer summarized technical assistance on the proposed expansion of guaranteed income programs for foster youth and other eligible groups. She said the department had relied on an estimate from the Department of Finance that closing a tax exemption could generate about $119,000,000 in state revenue and recommended drafting new statutory language if the Legislature wants a permanent statewide program. Troyer also suggested routing a permanent program to counties via allocations rather than repeated competitive grants to reduce state administration costs.

Advocates at public comment urged the Legislature to fund AB 661, the Guaranteed Income Research and Expansion Act, which would require a research entity to report on the feasibility of a permanent guaranteed income program and pathways for expansion. The County Welfare Directors Association and community groups said they seek significant investment in prevention services and asked to be included in implementation planning if the Legislature considers county administration for a permanent program.

Ending: The department committed to provide updated fiscal estimates and technical language recommendations; committee members said they will continue discussions ahead of the May revise and future legislation.