CA AB519

Eliminates "long-term foster care" as a permanency plan option and replaces it with "another planned permanent living arrangement," which can only be used for children 16 years or older who are receiving specialized permanency services.

Prohibits children under 16 years of age from remaining in another planned permanent living arrangement and requires placement with a fit and willing relative or pursuit of adoption, guardianship, or reunification instead.

Requires specialized permanency services be provided to children before deeming them "not a proper subject for adoption" or as "having no one willing to accept legal guardianship."

Establishes "placement with a fit and willing relative" as a new permanency planning option and requires intensive, ongoing efforts to identify and engage relatives for placement.

Requires social workers and probation officers to provide prospective adoptive families and legal guardians with information about mental health providers with specialized adoption or permanency clinical training, effective January 1, 2017.