(a) In order to receive payments under this article, the county child welfare agency, probation department, Indian tribe, consortium of tribes, or tribal organization that has entered into an agreement pursuant to Section 10553.1, shall negotiate and enter into a written, binding, kinship guardianship assistance agreement with the relative guardian of an eligible child, and provide the relative guardian with a copy of the agreement.
(b) The agreement shall specify, at a minimum, all of the following:
(1) The amount of and manner in which the kinship guardianship assistance payment will be provided under the agreement, and that the amount is subject to any applicable increases pursuant to cost-of-living adjustments established by statute, and the manner in which the agreement may be adjusted periodically, but no less frequently than every two years, in consultation with the relative guardian, based on the circumstances of the relative guardian and the needs of the child.
(2) Additional services and assistance for which the child and relative guardian will be eligible under the agreement.
(3) A procedure by which the relative guardian may apply for additional services, as needed, including the filing of a petition under Section 388 to have dependency jurisdiction resumed pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 366.3.
(4) That the agreement shall remain in effect regardless of the state of residency of the relative guardian.
(5) The responsibility of the relative guardian for reporting changes in the needs of the child or the circumstances of the relative guardian that affect payment.
(6) For guardianships established on and after January 1, 2012, payment shall be made for reasonable and verified nonrecurring expenses associated with obtaining legal guardianship not to exceed the amount specified in federal law. Reimbursement shall not be made for costs otherwise reimbursed from other sources, including the foster care maintenance payment. The agreement shall indicate the maximum amount, the purpose of the expense, and the process for obtaining reimbursement of the nonrecurring expenses to be paid.
(c) In accordance with the Kin-GAP agreement, the relative guardian shall be paid an amount of aid based on the child’s needs otherwise covered in AFDC-FC payments and the circumstances of the relative guardian, but that shall not exceed the foster care maintenance payment that would have been paid based on the age-related state-approved foster family home care rate and any applicable specialized care increment for a child placed in a licensed or approved family home pursuant to subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, of Section 11461. In addition, the rate paid for a child eligible for a Kin-GAP payment shall include an amount equal to the clothing allowance, as set forth in subdivision (f) of Section 11461, including any applicable rate adjustments. For a child eligible for a Kin-GAP 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.
(d) Commencing on the effective date of the act that added this subdivision, and notwithstanding subdivision (c), in accordance with the Kin-GAP agreement, the relative guardian shall be paid an amount of aid based on the child’s needs otherwise covered in AFDC-FC payments and the circumstances of the relative guardian, as follows:
(1) For cases in which the dependency has been dismissed pursuant to Section 366.3 or wardship has been terminated pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 728, concurrently or subsequently to establishment of the guardianship, on or before June 30, 2011, or the date specified in a final order, for which the time to 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 rate paid shall not exceed the basic foster care maintenance payment rate structure in effect prior to the effective date specified in the order described in this paragraph.
(2) For cases in which dependency has been dismissed pursuant to Section 366.3 or wardship has been terminated pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 728, concurrently or subsequently to establishment of the guardianship, 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 rate paid shall not exceed the basic foster care maintenance payment rate structure effective and available as of December 31, 2016.
(3) For cases in which dependency has been dismissed pursuant to Section 366.3 or wardship has been terminated pursuant to Section 728, concurrently or subsequently to establishment of the guardianship, on or after January 1, 2017, the rate paid shall not exceed the home-based family care rate structure developed pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 11461 and Section 11463.
(4) Beginning with the 2011–12 fiscal year, the Kin-GAP benefit payments rate structure shall be adjusted annually by the percentage change in the California Necessities Index, as set forth in paragraph (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 11461, without requiring a new agreement.
(5) In addition to the rate paid for a child eligible for a Kin-GAP payment, a specialized care increment, if applicable, as set forth in subdivision (e) of Section 11461, also shall be paid.
(6) In addition to the rate paid for a child eligible for a Kin-GAP payment, a clothing allowance, as set forth in subdivision (f) of Section 11461, also shall be paid.
(7) For a child eligible for a Kin-GAP 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.
(e) The county child welfare agency, probation department, Indian tribe, consortium of tribes, or tribal organization that entered into an agreement pursuant to Section 10553.1 shall provide the relative guardian with information, in writing, on the availability of the Kin-GAP program with an explanation of the difference between these benefits and Adoption Assistance Program benefits and AFDC-FC benefits. The agency shall also provide the relative guardian with information on the availability of mental health services through the Medi-Cal program or other programs.
(f) The county child welfare agency, probation department, Indian tribe, consortium of tribes, or tribal organization, as appropriate, shall assess the needs of the child and the circumstances of the related guardian and is responsible for determining that the child meets the eligibility criteria for payment.
(g) Payments on behalf of a child who is a recipient of Kin-GAP benefits and who is also a consumer of regional center services shall be based on the rates established by the State Department of Social Services pursuant to Section 11464.
(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 454, Sec. 3. (SB 876) Effective September 17, 2018.)