1559.110-1559.115
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
SECTION 1559.110-1559.115
1559.110. (a) Except as specified in subdivision (e), the State Department of Social Services shall license community care facilities participating in transitional housing placement programs, as designated in Sections 11400 and 16522 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. (b) Transitional housing placement programs shall provide supervised housing services to persons who are at least 16 years of age and not more than 18 years of age, except as provided in Section 11403 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and who meet all of the following conditions: (1) Meet the requirements of Section 11401 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. (2) Are in out-of-home placement under the supervision of the county department of social services or the county probation department. (3) Are participating in, or have successfully completed, an independent living program. (c) A transitional housing placement program may also serve any person less than 21 years of age pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 11403.2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. (d) Transitional housing placement program services shall include any of the following: (1) Programs in which one or more participants in the program live in an apartment, single-family dwelling, or condominium with an adult employee of the provider. (2) Programs in which a participant lives independently in an apartment, single-family dwelling, or condominium rented or leased by the provider located in a building in which one or more adult employees of the provider reside and provide supervision. (3) Programs in which a participant lives independently in an apartment, single-family dwelling, or condominium rented or leased by a provider under the supervision of the provider if the State Department of Social Services provides approval. (e) A transitional housing placement facility that serves only eligible youth over 18 years of age who have emancipated from the foster care system shall not be subject to subdivision (a), provided the facility has been certified to provide transitional housing services by the appropriate county social services or probation department, and has obtained a local fire clearance. No later than June 30, 2002, the department shall establish certification standards and procedures in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association, the California Youth Connection, the county probation departments, and provider representatives. The certification standards shall include, but not be limited to, a criminal background check of transitional housing providers and staff. (f) (1) The department shall adopt regulations to govern transitional housing placement facilities licensed pursuant to this section. (2) The regulations shall be age-appropriate and recognize that youth who are about to emancipate from the foster care system should be subject to fewer restrictions than those who are younger. At a minimum, the regulations shall provide for both of the following: (A) Require programs that serve youth who are both in and out of the foster care system to have separate rules and program design, as appropriate, for these two groups of youth. (B) Allow youth who have emancipated from the foster care system to have the greatest amount of freedom possible in order to prepare them for self-sufficiency. 1559.115. No applicant shall be issued a license pursuant to this article unless the county department of social services or the county probation department, in the county where the license will be issued, has certified the program as described in Section 16522.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.