Assemblyman Maze’s Guardianship For Foster Youth, AB 298 Passes Out Of The Senate Judiciary Committee

AB 298 helps California’s foster children find permanent loving homes with their relatives

Sacramento – Assemblyman Bill Maze (R-Visalia) is proud to announce that Assembly Bill 298 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday afternoon. Majority Floor Leader Karen Bass from Los Angeles is the Joint Author of this legislation.

Assembly Bill 298 ensures that foster children in relative care are able to achieve a permanent placement with extended family. It modifies existing law to make it clear that a relative caregiver’s preference for legal guardianship over adoption, so long as it does not indicate an unwillingness to accept full responsibility for the child, is not a reason to remove the child from the relative caregiver.

“Many of California’s foster children are cared for by grandparents, aunts and uncles, and other extended family members,” said Assemblyman Maze. “When children cannot safely return to their birth parents, relatives can play a vital role in providing what every child needs and deserves – a permanent home.”

AB 298 would enable counties to forego the termination of parental rights for children who are placed with caring, committed relatives who wish to become guardians, essentially viewing guardianship as a permanent placement option on the same par as adoption. This will help to minimize disruptions and maximize permanency for vulnerable children who cannot live safely with their parents.

For more information on this bill article please visit republican.assembly.ca.gov.