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Panel approves bill to place domestic‑violence consultants inside child‑welfare offices
Summary
AB 779 would create a program to place domestic‑violence consultants in county child welfare offices to provide real‑time guidance to social workers. Supporters said a pilot in the Antelope Valley improved outcomes; the committee passed the bill as amended.
Assemblymember Lackey presented AB 779, which would scale a pilot program that embeds domestic‑violence consultants into Department of Child and Family Services offices to support social workers’ assessments and casework. Lackey said the Antelope Valley pilot had shown promising, trauma‑informed results and that the bill is preventive rather than punitive.
Magali Zagal of the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence testified in support and described the coalition’s backing. "For decades, unfortunately, survivors have not had positive experiences with the child welfare system ... AB 779 represents a significant step toward closer collaboration between domestic violence agencies and child welfare," she said. She cited the pilot collaboration in Los Angeles County as the origin of the model.
No opposition witnesses were recorded during the hearing. The committee adopted committee amendments and voted to pass the bill as amended; the committee minutes record a favorable committee vote and the bill was forwarded per committee rules.
