SB 1201 Summary

• Prohibits adoption placement in homes where prospective adoptive parents or adult residents have been convicted of violent felonies as defined in Penal Code Section 667.5(c), expanding existing restrictions beyond child abuse, spousal abuse, and crimes against children.

• Restricts child placement with relatives, nonrelatives, and resource families if they have felony convictions for crimes against children, spousal abuse, or violent crimes; requires courts and social workers to consider criminal history for other convictions when determining best interests of the child.

• Limits director exemptions from criminal disqualifications by prohibiting exemptions for violent felony convictions in foster care provider situations, including relatives and extended family members.

• Requires criminal records clearance checks and fingerprinting for all adults in resource family homes, with new procedures for evaluating convictions of misdemeanors involving child sexual abuse, assault, or exploitation.

• Declares this is a state-mandated local program with no state reimbursement provided, as specified in Section 6 of the bill.