AB 495: Family Preparedness Plan Act of 2025.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

(1)Under existing law, a caregiver who is 18 years of age or older and signs a caregiver’s authorization affidavit under penalty of perjury for a minor who lives in their home is authorized to enroll the minor in school and consent to school-related medical care on behalf of the minor. Under existing law, a caregiver who is 18 years of age or older, signs the caregiver’s authorization affidavit under penalty of perjury, and who is a certain type of relative of the minor who lives in their home, has the same rights to authorize medical care and dental care for the minor that are given to guardians, as specified. Under existing law, a person who acts in good faith reliance on a completed caregiver’s authorization affidavit to provide medical or dental care, without actual knowledge of facts contrary to those stated on the affidavit, is not subject to criminal or civil liability or professional disciplinary action for that reliance, but is not relieved from liability for violations of other provisions of law.

This bill, the Family Preparedness Plan Act of 2025, would revise the definition of relative to expand the type of relative who is authorized to execute a caregiver’s authorization affidavit and grant them the same rights to authorize school-related medical care, as defined, for the minor that are given to guardians, as specified. By expanding who is authorized to sign a caregiver’s authorization affidavit for these purposes under penalty of perjury, this bill would expand the crime of perjury, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program.

This bill would amend the statutory form for a caregiver’s authorization affidavit.

(2)Existing law generally provides for the establishment and administration of guardianships. Existing law authorizes a court to appoint joint guardians of a person, an estate, or a person and an estate. Existing law requires a nomination of a guardian to become effective when made, and remain effective, unless stated otherwise in writing, as specified.

This bill would authorize a court, in its discretion, to appoint a custodial parent and a person nominated by the custodial parent as joint guardians of the person of the minor, if the custodial parent will be temporarily unavailable due to specified circumstances, including, among other things, an immigration-related administrative action, as specified. The bill would make all records, petitions, orders, and documents related to these proceedings confidential, as specified.

The bill would provide that absence is a basis for a delayed effectiveness of a guardianship and that such circumstances would not be a basis for subsequent legal incapacity for the nomination.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 22

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. October 12, 2025Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 664, Statutes of 2025.
2. October 12, 2025Approved by the Governor.
3. September 23, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
4. September 16, 2025Enrolled measure version corrected.
5. September 11, 2025Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 60. Noes 20. Page 3317.).
6. September 10, 2025In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
7. September 10, 2025Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 29. Noes 10. Page 2834.).
8. September 8, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
9. September 5, 2025Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
10. September 2, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
11. August 29, 2025Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
12. August 29, 2025From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 29).