CA SB824

Authorizes courts to place children with nonrelative extended family members and extended family members regardless of criminal record exemption or resource family approval status if placement poses no health and safety risk.

Expands criminal record exemption eligibility for relative, nonrelative extended family member, and extended family member caregivers seeking placement of specific children by allowing exemptions for those showing present good character without felony convictions within the last 5 years.

Makes children placed under court-ordered placements with relatives or extended family members eligible for Kin-GAP (Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program) and state-funded foster care assistance programs (AFDC-FC and ARC).

Modifies Adoption Assistance Program eligibility to allow children placed with relatives, nonrelative extended family members, or extended family members through court authorization to qualify regardless of criminal record exemption status.

Provides that no state appropriation shall be made to implement the bill and clarifies no reimbursement is required for costs imposed on local agencies.