(SACRAMENTO, CA) The Governor signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1331 authored by Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, to help provide a safety net to severely disabled foster youth poised to exit state care.

“We cannot abandon foster youth transitioning into adulthood, especially those living with disabilities,” said Evans.  “They need our support to succeed in life.  Now we can assure that disabled foster youth receive the assistance already available to them.”

Assembly Bill (AB) 1331 requires county child welfare agencies to screen all foster youth between ages 16½ and 17½ for a mental or physical disability and assist them in applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a federal income supplement program for the disabled which provides a monthly cash benefit.  The goal of the bill is to have SSI in place for eligible youth upon emancipation from the foster care system.  To help meet this goal, the bill allows youth with pending SSI applications to remain in foster care past their 18th birthday until their applications are processed.

“Other states have made some effort to screen foster youth for disabilities but now only California ensures that these benefits are in place at the point of emancipation, when foster youth really need assistance,” added Evans.

An estimated 15 percent of foster youth live with a serious physical or mental disability.  There are nearly 80,000 children in California’s foster care system.  Each year, over 4,000 youth age out of foster care when they turn age 18.  Sixty-five percent of foster youth emancipate from state care without a place to live.  Fifty-one percent are unemployed.  Less than three percent attend college.  Foster youth with disabilities are particularly vulnerable and at greater risk.

“Without these benefits, disabled foster youth are at significantly greater risk for homelessness, unemployment, and chronic physical and mental health problems,” concluded Evans.

SSI benefits are designed to provide a minimum level of monthly income to disabled persons and families with disabled children who have limited incomes.  The federal monthly grant for an individual is $623.  SSI eligibility triggers a State Supplemental Payment (SSP) benefit of $223 for an individual, for a total of $856 per month.

AB 1331 passed the Assembly 77-0.  It passed the Senate 29-11.  It is sponsored by the John Burton Foundation, the County Welfare Directors Association, the Public Interest Law Project and the Alliance for Children’s Rights.  Further information about AB 1331 is available online at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov.

This is the third Evans bill signed by the Governor this year.  She has seven bills still awaiting his signature or veto.  The Governor has until October 14th to take action on all legislation pending on his desk.