SB 238 Summary

• Requires the Judicial Council to adopt rules of court and develop forms by July 1, 2016 for court authorization of psychotropic medications for dependent children and wards, ensuring children and caregivers have opportunity to provide input and establishing periodic court oversight processes.

• Mandates the State Department of Social Services to develop and distribute monthly reports to counties listing children prescribed psychotropic medications under Medi-Cal, including authorized medications, pharmacy data, and indicators for children requiring additional follow-up.

• Requires county placing agencies to share psychotropic medication information with juvenile courts, children's attorneys, county behavioral health departments, and court-appointed special advocates.

• Expands training requirements on psychotropic medications, trauma, and mental health treatments for group home administrators, foster parents, relative caregivers, social workers, judges, attorneys, and public health nurses involved in foster care.

• Creates state-mandated local programs requiring counties to provide court orders approving or denying psychotropic medication requests to children's caregivers, imposing additional duties on county employees.