Laws and Policy

We implement policy advocacy at the federal, state, and local levels. Our work includes policy development, lobbying, coalition building, and community organizing.

Browse Laws & Policy

Keeping 14 and 15 Year Olds Out of the Adult Criminal Justice System (2018)

SB 1391 (Lara)

SB 1391 is the first of many steps California needs to take to ensure our youth justice system is developmentally appropriate and encourages the healthy development and wellbeing of all of our children.

Enacted

Keep Kids in School Act (2018)

SB 607 eliminates the sunset clause in AB 420 and expands its protections to students in grades K through 12 accused of defiance or disruption.

Inactive

Protecting Foster Youth From Abuse (2018)

AB 2323 (Rubio)

Assembly Bill 2323 will protect the health and safety of children in foster care by requiring the Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) to complete investigations of abuse or neglect within 30 days of the receipt of the allegation.

Inactive

Keeping Younger Children Out of the Juvenile Court System (2017)

Senate Bill 439 (Mitchell, Lara) would exclude children 11 years old and younger from prosecution in juvenile court. The bill would protect young children from the negative impacts of formal justice system involvement, promote their rights, health, and well-being through alternative child-serving systems, and decrease the amount of resources wasted in the juvenile justice system.

Enacted

Protecting Miranda Rights for Youth (2017)

SB 395 (Lara)

This bill would require youth under 18 to consult with counsel prior to waiving their rights during a custodial interrogation.

Enacted

Foster Youth Sexual Health Education Act (2017)

SB 89 (Leyva)

In July 2017, California adopted a NCYL sponsored law requiring comprehensive sexual health education for youth in foster care and new training requirements for foster caregivers, social workers and judges.

Enacted

Judicial Authorization of Psychotropic Drug Administration to Foster Children (2017)

This legislation initially attempted to mandate the application of health care standards by the judiciary when authorizing psychotropic drugs to children in foster care. No psychotropic drugs would be authorized without prior medical exams of the children, and on-going medical monitoring must occur.

Enacted

Caregiver Access to Education Records (2017)

SB 233 (Beall)

This legislation authored by Senator Jim Beall, will improve the coordination of educational services between caregivers of foster children, Local Education Agencies (LEAs), Child Welfare Agencies (CWAs) and education rights holders by clarifying the types of education records that caregivers can access.

Enacted

School Navigators for System Involved Students (2017)

HB 411 (Gallegos)

Students in foster care and those involved in the juvenile justice system need ongoing, on-the-ground support to ensure they have opportunities to be successful in school. HB 411 will enable each school district to provide continuous educational support to these students and facilitates the successful implementation of landmark federal law, The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) on their behalf.

Enacted