The California State Assembly approved two bills authored by James C. Ramos on Thursday, advancing legislation aimed at improving crisis treatment options for foster youth and supporting the development of a statewide cultural center honoring California Native American history and culture.
The measures — AB 1579 and AB 1592 — now move to the California Senate for consideration.
AB 1579 would expand the allowable program types for foster youth residential crisis services within the Children's Crisis Pilot Program. The legislation is intended to provide greater flexibility in addressing the varying needs of foster youth across California.
According to the bill summary, the expanded framework would help create “a network of services†so foster youth can access higher or lower levels of intervention “without disruption or delay.â€
The legislation is co-sponsored by Just Advocates and the California Alliance of Child and Family Services.
Supporters of AB 1579 include Alliance for Children's Rights, Alliance for Community Advocacy, Alternative Family Services, California Behavioral Health Association, the City and County of San Francisco, County Behavioral Health Directors Association, County of Fresno, County Welfare Directors Association of California, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Promesa Behavioral Health, Seneca Family of Agencies and Sycamores.
The Assembly also approved AB 1592, which authorizes the California Department of Parks and Recreation to enter into an operating agreement with the California Indian Heritage Center Support Organization to help advance development of the California Indian Heritage Center.
The cultural center will be located in West Sacramento at the confluence of the Sacramento and American rivers and will serve as a unit of California's state park system.
The legislation seeks to further ongoing efforts to create a cultural destination honoring the history, cultures and contributions of California Native peoples.
Jamul Indian Village of California is sponsoring the measure.
Additional supporters of AB 1592 include the California Tribal Business Alliance, Habemaltolel Pomo of Upper Lake, Morongo Band of Mission Indians, Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation and the Trust for Public Land.
