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Committee advances bill to index infant supplement for parenting foster youth to inflation
Summary
AB 349 was passed by the committee as amended and referred to Appropriations. Sponsors said indexing the infant supplement will help parenting foster youth cover rising costs for diapers, formula and other basic needs.
Assemblymember Semler Dixon presented AB 349, which would index the infant supplement paid on behalf of parenting foster youth to inflation beginning in 2026. The author said she would accept committee amendments and described the policy as targeted to parenting foster youth who receive one of the few foster payments not already indexed to inflation.
Jill Dominguez, CEO and president of Mary's Path, testified that Mary's Path is a short-term residential therapeutic program (STRTP) serving pregnant and parenting teens in Orange County and that program costs for infant care have risen substantially since the supplement was last adjusted in 2016. Dominguez told the committee that diaper and formula costs have increased and that the supplemental payment has not kept pace. "We feed, house, clothe, and transport the teen moms and babies ... our rate for the care of the babies has not been increased since 02/2016," she said.
Other supportive witnesses included representatives from the Orange County Board of Supervisors, EspiritNet, the California Alliance of Child and Family Services, and the Association of Regional Center Agencies. No opposition witnesses were recorded in committee testimony.
Committee members expressed concern about overall budget pressure but emphasized prioritizing supports for vulnerable children and teens. The author and committee agreed to continue advocating for the measure through the Appropriations Committee.
The committee voted to pass AB 349 as amended to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The roll call recorded a majority in favor and the committee recorded a final favorable vote.
