(a)  In the event a county elects to participate in the California Children and Families Program, and satisfies the requirements set forth in Section 130140, the county may establish a county commission that is either of the following:

(1)  A legal public entity separate from the county.

(2)  An agency of the county with independent authority over the strategic plan described in Section 130140 and the local trust fund established pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 130105.

(b)  In the event a county elects to establish a county commission as specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), the following conditions shall apply:

(1)  The county commission shall be considered a legal public entity separate from the county, and shall file a statement as required by § 53051 of the Government Code.

(2)  The powers, duties, and responsibilities of the county commission shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

(A)  The power to employ personnel and contract for personal services required to meet its obligations.

(B)  The power to enter into any contracts necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this division.

(C)  The power to acquire, possess, and dispose of real or personal property, as necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions and purposes of this division.

(D)  The power to sue or be sued.

(3)  The county commission shall be deemed to be a public agency that is a unit of local government for purposes of all grant programs and other funding and loan guarantee programs.

(4)  Any obligations of the county commission, statutory, contractual, or otherwise, shall be obligations solely of the commission.

(5)  All claims or actions for money or damages against a county commission shall be governed by Part 3 (commencing with Section 900) and Part 4 (commencing with Section 940) of Division 3.6 of Title 1 of the Government Code, except as provided by other statutes or regulations that expressly apply to county commissions.

(6)  The county commission, its members, and its employees are protected by the immunities applicable to public entities and public employees governed by Part 1 (commencing with Section 810) and Part 2 (commencing with Section 814) of Division 3.6 of Title 1 of the Government Code, except as provided by other statutes or regulations that apply expressly to the county commissions.

(7)  If a county board of supervisors elects not to continue the county’s participation in the California Children and Families Program, the board shall adopt an ordinance terminating the county commission.

(A)  In terminating its county commission, the board of supervisors shall allow, to the extent possible, an appropriate transition period to allow for the county commission’s then-existing obligations to be satisfied.

(B)  In event of termination, any unencumbered and unexpended moneys remaining in the local Children and Families Trust Fund shall be distributed pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 130140.

(C)  Prior to the termination of the county commission, the board of supervisors shall notify the state Children and Families Commission of its intent to terminate the county commission.

(D)  The liabilities of the county commission shall not become obligations of the county upon either the termination of the county commission or the liquidation or disposition of the county commission’s remaining assets.

(c)  If a county elects to establish a county commission as provided in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), the county commission shall be deemed to be an agency of the county with independent authority over the strategic plan described in Section 130140 and the local Children and Families Trust Fund established pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 130105.

(d)  Any county commission established prior to the effective date of this section that substantially complies with the provisions of either subdivision (b) or (c) shall be deemed to be in compliance with this section.

(e)  (1)  Individually identifiable physical or mental health information, substance abuse information, child care or education information, personnel or employment information, financial information, criminal justice information, or demographic information, regarding a child or a child’s parent, legal guardian, or other family member, that is provided to a county commission by a parent, legal guardian, family member, health care provider, health plan, public health authority, school, law enforcement agency, social services agency, probation agency, or any other source, shall be considered confidential, and may be disclosed only to a person, agency, or entity that receives funding from the county commission, by way of a grant award or contract or as a service provider for the provision of early childhood services, and only to the extent necessary to the provision of services, unless further disclosure is authorized by a written consent of the parent or legal guardian, or where disclosure is required by state or federal law.

(2)  Confidential information identified in accordance with this section shall not be subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code).

(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 664, Sec. 153. Effective January 1, 2003.)