AB 1602 — Foster youth: disaster aid assistance.

Bill20250AB__160298ENR Text98 -INTRODUCED AB-16022026-01-16 FosterPASSED_ASSEMBLY youth:2026-05-21 PASSED_SENATE 2026-08-28 ENROLLED 2026-09-02 2025 0 AB 1602 ENR Introduced by Assembly Member Blanca Rubio LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Blanca Rubio An act to add Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 16590) to Part 4 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to foster youth.

foster youth Foster youth:

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01/16/26 - Introduced AB-1602 Foster youth:

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Date Published:

01/16/2026 09:00 PM AB1602:v99#DOCUMENTBill Start CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No.

1602Introduced by Assembly Member Blanca RubioJanuary 16, 2026An act to add Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 16590) to Part 4 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to foster youth.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1602, as introduced, Blanca Rubio.

Foster youth:

disaster aid assistance.Existing law generally provides for the placement of foster youth in various placement settings and governs the provision of child welfare services, which is defined to mean public social services that are directed toward the accomplishment of specified purposes, including protecting and promoting the welfare of all children, preventing the unnecessary separation of children from their families, and restoring to their families children who have been removed.Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to ensure that, among other things, emergency response services are coordinated with the implementation of specified program models.

Existing law also requires the department to review its disaster plan, revise the plan to clarify the role and responsibilities of the state in the event of a disaster, and consult with counties to identify opportunities for collaboration in the event of a disaster.Thisdisaster. bill would establish the Child Welfare Disaster Response Program, to be administered by the department.

This bill would establish the Child Welfare Disaster Response Program, to be administered by the department.

The bill would authorize the department to implement, interpret, or make specific these provisions by means of all-county letters or similar written instructions.Digestinstructions. Key Vote:

MAJORITY  MAJORITY Appropriation:NO YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

NO  SECTION Fiscal1. Committee:

YES  Chapter Local8 Program:(commencing with Section 16590) is added to Part 4 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code , to read:

NO  Bill8. TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 16590) is added to Part 4 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

CHAPTERDisaster  8. Disaster Aid Assistance for Foster Children, Youth, and Families16590. (a) TheFamilies Child16590. Welfare Disaster Response Program is hereby created, and is to be administered by the department.(b) The Child Welfare Disaster Response Account is hereby created to fund the program.(c) Upon appropriation by the Legislature, moneys in the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account shall be used for purposes of the program and to support the needs of foster children and youth and their caregivers during a disaster.(d) For purposes of this chapter, “foster children and youth” means any of the following:(1) Children or nonminor dependents under the supervision of county child welfare agencies.(2) Wards placed in foster care under the supervision of county probation departments.(3) Children or nonminor dependents under the supervision of Indian tribes that have entered into an agreement pursuant to Section 10553.1.16590.1. (a) The department shall determine eligibility criteria for the allocation of funds to applicants.(b) A county child welfare agency, county probation department, or Indian tribe that has entered into an agreement pursuant to Section 10553.1 may apply for funds on behalf of foster children and youth and their caregivers under supervision of the agency, department, or tribe based on the eligibility criteria established by the department pursuant to subdivision (a).(c) Funds awarded pursuant to this chapter shall be available to meet the housing, clothing, transportation, and other tangible needs of foster children and youth and their caregivers that occur within 180 days of a local emergency proclamation by a local government or a state of emergency proclamation by the Governor.16590.2. It is the intent of the Legislature that the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account may be replenished at the start of every fiscal year.16590.3. Gifts, donations, and bequests may be made to the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account, subject to any conditions or restrictions from the department.16590.4. 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 chapter by means of all-county letters or similar written instructions from the department.

(a) The Child Welfare Disaster Response Program is hereby created, and is to be administered by the department.

(b) The Child Welfare Disaster Response Account is hereby created to fund the program.

(c) Upon appropriation by the Legislature, moneys in the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account shall be used for purposes of the program and to support the needs of foster children and youth and their caregivers during a disaster.

(d) For purposes of this chapter, “foster children and youth” means any of the following:

(1) Children or nonminor dependents under the supervision of county child welfare agencies.

(2) Wards placed in foster care under the supervision of county probation departments.

(3) Children or nonminor dependents under the supervision of Indian tribes that have entered into an agreement pursuant to Section 10553.1.

16590.1.

(a) The department shall determine eligibility criteria for the allocation of funds to applicants.

(b) A county child welfare agency, county probation department, or Indian tribe that has entered into an agreement pursuant to Section 10553.1 may apply for funds on behalf of foster children and youth and their caregivers under supervision of the agency, department, or tribe based on the eligibility criteria established by the department pursuant to subdivision (a).

(c) Funds awarded pursuant to this chapter shall be available to meet the housing, clothing, transportation, and other tangible needs of foster children and youth and their caregivers that occur within 180 days of a local emergency proclamation by a local government or a state of emergency proclamation by the Governor.

16590.2.

It is the intent of the Legislature that the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account may be replenished at the start of every fiscal year.

16590.3.

Gifts, donations, and bequests may be made to the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account, subject to any conditions or restrictions from the department.

16590.4.

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 chapter by means of all-county letters or similar written instructions from the department.