11387. (Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 46, Sec. 16.)

(a) In order to receive federal financial participation for payments under this article, the county child welfare agency or probation department, Indian tribe, consortium of tribes, or tribal organization that 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. The negotiated agreement shall be executed prior to establishment of the guardianship.

(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, 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, but not limited to, the filing of a petition under Section 388 to have dependency jurisdiction resumed pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 366.3.

(4) The agreement shall provide that it 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 a guardianship 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 (e) 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, and before July 1, 2027, or the effective date specified in paragraph (9) of subdivision (h) of Section 11461, as applicable, 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) (A) 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 and after July 1, 2027, or the date specified in paragraph (9) of subdivision (h) of Section 11461, the rate paid shall not exceed Tier 1 of the Care and Supervision component of the Tiered Rate Structure, as described in subdivision (h) of Section 11461, unless the conditions of subparagraph (B) apply.

(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the rate paid may exceed Tier 1, but shall not exceed Tier 2, of the Care and Supervision component of the Tiered Rate Structure, as described in subdivision (h) of Section 11461, under specific conditions established by the department and based on assessed needs of the child.

(5) Beginning with the 2011–12 fiscal year, the Kin-GAP benefit payment 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.

(6) 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, shall be paid.

(7) 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, shall be paid.

(8) 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 or 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 federal 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, or Indian tribe, 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.