AB 865 Summary

• Requires counties to include information on providing care and supervision to commercially sexually exploited children as part of the mandatory 12-hour preapproval caregiver training for resource family applicants, effective January 1, 2021.

• Mandates that resource families caring for children ages 10 and older must attend specialized training within 12 months of approval on best practices for supporting commercially sexually exploited children, covering topics including recognizing indicators of exploitation, harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and available resources.

• Specifies that the specialized training must be survivor-informed, culturally relevant, and address stigma, with flexibility for delivery through in-person, virtual, or recorded formats.

• Establishes that after completing the required specialized training, resource families are not obligated to attend additional training on commercially sexually exploited children except when specific needs of a particular child warrant it.

• Clarifies that no state reimbursement is required for these mandate costs under the 2011 Realignment Legislation, with the bill creating state-mandated local program duties for counties.