Assembly BillVetoedWelfare and Institutions
AB 689: Foster youth: disaster aid assistance.
What AB 689 does, verified March 9, 2026
This bill establishes the child welfare disaster response program to support foster children and youth, as well as their caregivers, during a disaster. The program is administered by the state department of social services and is funded through a dedicated account. Eligibility for funds is determined by the department, and applications can be made by county child welfare agencies, county probation departments, or Indian tribes. The funds awarded will be used to support tangible needs such as housing, clothing, and transportation within 180 days of a local emergency proclamation. The department can provide written instructions to clarify the program's provisions and ensure its implementation.
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Last action: Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file. (2026-01-22)Alert me
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| Jan. 22, 2026 | Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file. |
| Jan. 22, 2026 | Stricken from file. |
| Oct. 01, 2025 | Consideration of Governor's veto pending. |
| Oct. 01, 2025 | Vetoed by Governor. |
| Sep. 11, 2025 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m. |
Latest bill textEnrolled version, September 8, 2025 · 845 words
| Enrolled September 08, 2025 |
| Passed IN Senate September 03, 2025 |
| Passed IN Assembly September 04, 2025 |
| Amended IN Senate August 29, 2025 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 689
| Introduced by Assembly Member Blanca Rubio |
February 14, 2025 |
An act to add Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 16590) to Part 4 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to foster youth.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 689, Blanca Rubio. Foster youth: disaster aid assistance.
Existing law generally provides for the placement of foster youth in various placement settings and governs the provision of child welfare services, which is defined to mean public social services that are directed toward the accomplishment of specified purposes, including protecting and promoting the welfare of all children, preventing the unnecessary separation of children from their families, and restoring to their families children who have been removed.
Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to ensure that, among other things, emergency response services are coordinated with the implementation of specified program models. Existing law also requires each county to provide the department with a disaster response plan describing how county programs that receive federal assistance for child and family services would respond to a disaster. Existing law also requires the department to review its disaster plan, revise the plan to clarify the role and responsibilities of the state in the event of a disaster, and consult with counties to identify opportunities for collaboration in the event of a disaster.
This bill would establish the Child Welfare Disaster Response Program, to be administered by the department. The bill would establish the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account to fund the program. The bill would require, upon appropriation by the Legislature, moneys in the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account to be used for purposes of the program and to support the needs of foster children and youth, as defined, and their caregivers during a disaster. The bill would require the department to determine eligibility criteria for applicants and would authorize county child welfare agencies, county probation departments, or Indian tribes, as specified, to apply for funds. The bill would require funds awarded pursuant those provisions to be available to meet the housing, clothing, transportation, and other tangible needs of foster children and youth and their caregivers that occur within 180 days of a local emergency proclamation by a local government or a state of emergency proclamation by the Governor. The bill would authorize the department to implement, interpret, or make specific these provisions by means of all-county letters or similar written instructions.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 16590) is added to Part 4 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:CHAPTER 8. Disaster Aid Assistance for Foster Children, Youth, and Families
16590.
(a) The Child Welfare Disaster Response Program is hereby created, and is to be administered by the department.(b) The Child Welfare Disaster Response Account is hereby created to fund the program.
(c) Upon appropriation by the Legislature, moneys in the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account shall be used for purposes of the program and to support the needs of foster children and youth and their caregivers during a disaster.
(d) For purposes of this chapter, “foster children and youth” means any of the following:
(1) Children or nonminor dependents under the supervision of county child welfare agencies.
(2) Wards placed in foster care under the supervision of county probation departments.
(3) Children or nonminor dependents under the supervision of Indian tribes that have entered into an agreement pursuant to Section 10553.1.
16590.1.
(a) The department shall determine eligibility criteria for the allocation of funds to applicants.(b) A county child welfare agency, county probation department, or Indian tribe that has entered into an agreement pursuant to Section 10553.1 may apply for funds on behalf of foster children and youth and their caregivers under supervision of the agency, department, or tribe based on the eligibility criteria established by the department pursuant to subdivision (a).
(c) Funds awarded pursuant to this chapter shall be available to meet the housing, clothing, transportation, and other tangible needs of foster children and youth and their caregivers that occur within 180 days of a local emergency proclamation by a local government or a state of emergency proclamation by the Governor.
16590.2.
It is the intent of the Legislature that the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account may be replenished at the start of every fiscal year.16590.3.
Gifts, donations, and bequests may be made to the Child Welfare Disaster Response Account, subject to any conditions or restrictions from the department.16590.4.
Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this chapter by means of all-county letters or similar written instructions from the department. These all-county letters or similar written instructions shall have the same force and effect as regulations.Text of AB 689 as enrolled, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions