CA AB2250

Board of State and Community Corrections must convene a working group to address needs of children of incarcerated parents and develop policy recommendations.

Working group shall include representatives from Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Department of Education, Department of Social Services, Department of Health Care Services, Judicial Council, law enforcement agencies, probation officers, and children's advocacy groups.

Working group must develop guidelines by January 1, 2020 for policy and procedure decisions affecting children of incarcerated parents in corrections, education, child welfare, mental health, courts, law enforcement, and probation.

Working group must make policy and fiscal recommendations to the Legislature by January 1, 2020 for potential state law revisions addressing the needs of children with incarcerated parents.

Bill identifies eight specific needs for children of incarcerated parents, including trauma protection at arrest, being heard in decisions, maintaining contact with incarcerated parent, and access to supportive services.