16501.01. (Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 935, Sec. 5.)

(a) A county may arrange for respite care for a child or nonminor dependent supervised by the county, which may be provided by any of the following:

(1) Prior to January 1, 2021, a licensed foster family home or certified family home.

(2) Prior to January 1, 2021, the approved home of a relative, as defined in Section 319, or nonrelative extended family member, as described in Section 362.7.

(3) An approved resource family, as defined in Section 16519.5 of this code and Section 1517 of the Health and Safety Code.

(4) At the option of a county, a respite care provider certified by the county pursuant to subdivision (b).

(b) A county electing to certify respite care providers shall do all of the following:

(1) Ensure an inspection of the home and grounds of the prospective respite care provider, consistent with standards developed under the resource family approval program, to determine that the home and grounds are free of conditions that may pose an undue risk to the health and safety of a child or nonminor dependent.

(2) Secure and evaluate the criminal record of the prospective respite care provider and all adults residing in the home pursuant to Section 1522 of the Health and Safety Code. The prospective respite care provider and all adults residing in the home shall obtain a criminal record clearance or exemption prior to certification. A nonminor dependent shall not be subject to criminal background clearances pursuant to Sections 1522 and 1522.1 of the Health and Safety Code for the purpose of certifying a prospective respite care provider.

(3) Check if the prospective respite care provider is listed in the Child Abuse Central Index and investigate any substantiated reports pursuant to Section 1522.1 of the Health and Safety Code.

(4) Determine whether the prospective respite care provider is willing and able to provide respite care to a child or nonminor dependent, taking into consideration the age, maturity, behavioral tendencies, mental and physical health, medications, abilities and limitations, and developmental level of, and court orders for, a child or nonminor dependent.

(5) Require the prospective respite care provider to complete the training specified in paragraph (13) of subdivision (g) of Section 16519.5.

(c) Notwithstanding the requirements of subdivision (b), when the need for respite care is unanticipated and the proposed respite care provider is a relative of the child, as defined in Section 319, or nonrelative extended family member, as defined in Section 362.7, and the proposed respite care provider has an established relationship with the child, nonminor dependent, or caregiver and it is in the best interest of the child or nonminor dependent, the county electing to certify respite care providers shall do all of the following:

(1) Cause a state-level criminal records check to be conducted by an appropriate government agency through the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System pursuant to Section 16504.5 and assess the results consistent with Section 361.4.

(2) Check if the relative or nonrelative extended family member is listed in the Child Abuse Central Index and investigate any substantiated reports pursuant to Section 1522.1 of the Health and Safety Code.

(3) Determine whether the proposed respite care provider is willing and able to provide respite care to a child or nonminor dependent, taking into consideration the age, maturity, behavioral tendencies, mental and physical health, medications, abilities and limitations, and developmental level of, and court orders for, a child or nonminor dependent.

(4) Permit a proposed respite care provider who has not completed the required training to provide respite care to a child or nonminor dependent.

(d) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a county from requiring that a respite care provider meet additional standards in order to be certified as a respite care provider by the county.

(e) Unless otherwise prohibited by the child’s social worker, probation officer, or court order, nothing in this section shall prohibit a resource family from arranging for a babysitter or alternative caregiver to provide, on an occasional basis, care and supervision to a child placed in the home.

(f) (1) A home certified as a respite care provider shall not be an eligible placement for a child who is the subject of a voluntary placement agreement, has been adjudged a dependent child of the juvenile court pursuant to Section 300, or as to whom a petition has been filed under Section 325.

(2) A home certified as a respite care provider shall not be eligible to receive AFDC-FC or Approved Relative Caregiver funding. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a county from using other available funds to support respite care services.