(a) Except for nonminors described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (e), AFDC-FC benefits shall be paid to an otherwise eligible child living with a nonrelated legal guardian, provided that the legal guardian cooperates with the county welfare department in all of the following:

(1) Developing a written assessment of the child’s needs.

(2) Updating the assessment no less frequently than once every six months.

(3) Carrying out the case plan developed by the county.

(b) Except for nonminors described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (e), when AFDC-FC is applied for on behalf of a child living with a nonrelated legal guardian the county welfare department shall do all of the following:

(1) Develop a written assessment of the child’s needs.

(2) Update those assessments no less frequently than once every six months.

(3) Develop a case plan that specifies how the problems identified in the assessment are to be addressed.

(4) Make visits to the child as often as appropriate, but in no event less often than once every six months.

(c) Where the child is a parent and has a child living with them in the same eligible facility, the assessment required by paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) shall include the needs of their child.

(d) Nonrelated legal guardians of eligible children who are in receipt of AFDC-FC payments described in this section shall be exempt from the requirement to register with the Statewide Registry of Private Professional Guardians pursuant to former Sections 2850 and 2851 of the Probate Code.

(e) (1) On and after January 1, 2012, a nonminor youth whose nonrelated guardianship was ordered in juvenile court pursuant to Section 360 or 366.26, and whose dependency was dismissed, shall remain eligible for AFDC-FC benefits until the youth attains 19 years of age, effective January 1, 2013, until the youth attains 20 years of age, and effective January 1, 2014, until the youth attains 21 years of age, provided that the youth enters into a mutual agreement with the agency responsible for their guardianship, and the youth is meeting the conditions of eligibility, as described in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (b) of Section 11403.

(2) A nonminor former dependent or ward, as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (aa) of Section 11400, shall be eligible for benefits under this section until the youth attains 21 years of age if all of the following conditions are met:

(A) The nonminor former dependent or ward attained 18 years of age while in receipt of Kin-GAP benefits pursuant to Article 4.7 (commencing with Section 11385).

(B) The nonminor’s relationship to the kinship guardian is defined in paragraph (2), (3), or (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 11391.

(C) The nonminor was under 16 years of age at the time the Kin-GAP negotiated agreement payments commenced.

(D) The guardian continues to be responsible for the support of the nonminor.

(E) The nonminor otherwise is meeting the conditions of eligibility, as described in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (b) of Section 11403.

(f) On or after January 1, 2012, a child whose nonrelated guardianship was ordered in probate court pursuant Article 2 (commencing with Section 1510) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Probate Code, who is attending high school or the equivalent level of vocational or technical training on a full-time basis, or who is in the process of pursuing a high school equivalency certificate before their 18th birthday may continue to receive aid following their 18th birthday as long as the child continues to reside in the guardian’s home, remains otherwise eligible for AFDC-FC benefits and continues to attend high school or the equivalent level of vocational or technical training on a full-time basis, or continues to pursue a high school equivalency certificate, and the child may reasonably be expected to complete the educational or training program or to receive a high school equivalency certificate, before their 19th birthday. Aid shall be provided to an individual pursuant to this section provided that both the individual and the agency responsible for the foster care placement have signed a mutual agreement, if the individual is capable of making an informed agreement, documenting the continued need for out-of-home placement.

(g) (1) For cases in which a guardianship was established on or before June 30, 2011, or the date specified in a final order, for which the time for appeal has passed, issued by a court of competent jurisdiction in California State Foster Parent Association, et al. v. William Lightbourne, et al. (U.S. Dist. Ct. No. C 07-05086 WHA), whichever is earlier, the AFDC-FC payment described in this section shall be the foster family home rate structure in effect before the effective date specified in the order described in this paragraph.

(2) For cases in which guardianship has been established on or after July 1, 2011, or the date specified in the order described in paragraph (1), whichever is earlier, and through December 31, 2016, the AFDC-FC payments described in this section shall be the basic foster family home rate structure effective and available as of December 31, 2016.

(3) For cases in which guardianship has been established by the juvenile court on or after January 1, 2017, the AFDC-FC payments described in this section shall not exceed the home-based family care rate structure developed pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 11461 and Section 11463.

(4) For cases in which guardianship has been established in the probate court on or after January 1, 2017, the AFDC-FC payments described in this section shall not exceed the basic level rate of the home-based family care rate structure.

(5) Beginning with the 2011-12 fiscal year, the AFDC-FC payments identified in this subdivision shall be adjusted annually by the percentage change in the California Necessities Index rate as set forth in paragraph (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 11461.

(h) In addition to the AFDC-FC rate paid, all of the following also shall be paid:

(1) A specialized care increment, if applicable, as set forth in subdivision (e) of Section 11461.

(2) A clothing allowance, as set forth in subdivision (f) of Section 11461.

(3) For a child eligible for an AFDC-FC payment who is a teen parent, the rate shall include the two-hundred-dollar ($200) monthly payment made to the relative caregiver in a whole family foster home pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 11465.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 777, Sec. 20. (AB 819) Effective January 1, 2020.)