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

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

Educational Access for System Involved Students (2017)

SB 213/HB 301 (Kernan)

The proposed legislation provides support to students who face barriers to their educational success through no fault of their own. The bill ensures that homeless students, foster students and other students in the State's care have a smooth transition between schools with full access to programs and services that are available to all other students. This policy values and acknowledges these students for the work they complete to improve and increase their college and career options.

Enacted

Browse Resources

Mental health support for court-involved youth

Helping Our Students Thrive: How schools can support student mental health and well-being

Youth provide insights to help build healthier schools

Preventing and mitigating youth trauma, family separations: California’s SB 578

Every child and young person needs and deserves to be unconditionally healthy, safe, and thriving in all the complexity of their humanity. As they grow and build toward the future they envision for themselves, children and youth must be free from state surveillance, policing, and coercive control. They must be able to seek the support they believe they, their families, and/or their communities need without fear of punishment or further harm.

Better supporting LGBTQIA2S+ youth survivors of commercial sexual exploitation

Every young person should be supported in being themselves and afforded the same opportunities to learn, grow and chase their dreams. For youth who are LGBTQIA2S+, however, this ideal often conflicts with their reality.

Improving supports for male survivors of sexual exploitation

All young people deserve safe spaces and connections with supportive people who promote their health and well-being, allowing them to be who they are and pursue their dreams. The unfortunate reality, however, is this isn't always the case.

California’s AB 665: Equitable access to mental health services

Every child deserves safe spaces and opportunities to connect with supportive people as they grow, learn about themselves and the world around them, and develop the skills they'll need to navigate the many challenges of life.

Restoring Critical Protections for Unaccompanied Children

All children – including unaccompanied children seeking safety when they arrive in the United States from all over the world – deserve protections that promote their health and well-being.

Understanding Alternative Schools Run by California’s 5 Largest County Offices of Education

All California K-12 students deserve an engaging education that supports and prepares them for college, career, and community life.