Section 16001.8

(a) The State Department of Social Services shall convene a working group regarding the rights of all minors and nonminors in foster care, as specified in Section 16001.9, in order to educate foster youth, foster care providers, and others. Responsibilities of the working group shall include all of the following:

(1) By January 1, 2018, make recommendations to the Legislature for revising the rights based on a review of state law.

(2) By July 1, 2018, develop standardized information regarding the revised rights in an age-appropriate manner and reflective of any relevant licensing requirements with respect to the foster care providers’ responsibilities to adequately supervise children in care.

(3) By July 1, 2018, develop recommendations regarding methods for disseminating the standardized information specified in paragraph (2), including whether to require the signature of a foster child verifying that he or she has received and understands his or her rights.

(4) By July 1, 2018, develop recommendations for measuring and improving, if necessary, the degree to which foster youth are adequately informed of their rights.

(b) The working group shall be composed of all of the following:

(1) The Office of the State Foster Care Ombudsperson.

(2) The bureau at the Department of Justice whose mission is to protect the rights of children.

(3) The County Welfare Directors Association of California.

(4) The Chief Probation Officers of California.

(5) The County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California.

(6) Current and former foster youth.

(7) Foster parents and caregivers.

(8) Foster children advocacy groups.

(9) Foster care provider associations.

(10) Any other interested parties.