CA AB1512

Requires county placing agencies serving as representative payee for foster children's federal Social Security Administration benefits to conserve those funds for the child's future use rather than using them to offset care costs, effective January 1, 2024 or 30 days after department guidance is issued, whichever is later.

Prohibits federal benefits from being used to pay for or reimburse the placing agency for any costs of the child's care and supervision, and requires benefits be conserved through dedicated accounts, PASS accounts, 529A plans, special needs trusts, or other viable account types.

Requires placing agencies to provide notification to the child, child's attorney, and parents/guardians before and during all applications for federal Social Security Administration benefits and any decisions regarding those applications.

Mandates at least 30 days before a child exits foster care that the placing agency work with the child and relevant family members to transfer control of conserved funds to the child's parent, guardian, adoptive parent, or the child themselves.

Repeals prior requirements that a workgroup make recommendations regarding feasibility and cost-effectiveness of reserving foster children's social security and SSI/SSP benefits, and exempts this act from state reimbursement requirements for local agencies under constitutional provisions.