Eight years after AB 22 47, oversight hearing finds progress and inconsistent implementation of placement‑preservation rules

The committee convened an oversight review of AB 22 47 (2018), which requires child‑and‑family‑team (CFT) processes, placement preservation strategies, and 14‑day notice prior to non‑emergency placement changes. Assemblymember Sam Leonard Gibson (sponsor) and California Youth Connection described the law's intent to reduce abrupt, overnight and punitive placement changes and to give youth a voice.

Youth advocates reported improved protections in many counties: CDSS and County Welfare Directors Association witnesses cited data showing statewide placement changes fell from 15,714 in 2019 to 9,961 in 2025. CDSS noted the CCR dashboard now tracks whether a CFT occurred prior to a placement change and reported that 48% of children in the dashboard had not had a CFT prior to change (some cases may be excepted).

However, legal advocates and the Children's Law Center said implementation is inconsistent: many attorneys and caseworkers reported that the 14‑day notice and preservation strategies are issued only sometimes, that preservation action plans are not always implemented, and that exceptions and ambiguity (for kin placements or youth‑requested moves) can delay appropriate family placements. Panelists recommended better fidelity, improved templates for documenting action plans, continued training, and IT improvements (the CARES project) to track follow‑through.

Panelists described measurable reductions in placement disruptions in many counties and emphasized that implementation, not statutory design, is the primary challenge. The committee asked CDSS for follow‑up data on placement stability stratified by geography and demographic characteristics to assess whether disparities persist.