California · 2025–26 Regular Session · Senate Bill
SB 452: Child welfare services: prevention legal services.
Passed one chamber Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SB 452 is a senate bill introduced in the California Senate on February 18, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Child welfare services: prevention legal services. Primary sponsor: Akilah Weber Pierson (D). Most recent recorded action (July 2, 2025): July 1 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.
Existing law establishes the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which may adjudge children to be dependents of the court under certain circumstances, including when the child suffered or there is a substantial risk that the child will suffer serious physical harm, or a parent fails to provide the child with adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical treatment. Existing law also establishes a system of child welfare services provided to children alleged to be the victims of child abuse, neglect, or exploitation, and defines “child welfare services” for these purposes to mean public social services that are directed toward the accomplishment of various purposes, including protecting and promoting the welfare of all children, and includes, among other services, emergency response services and family maintenance services.
This bill would, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature, require the State Department of Social Services to establish and implement the Family Advocacy Pilot Program for 3 years to provide grants to qualified organizations, as defined, to provide (1) prevention legal services designed to prevent the filing of a petition in a juvenile court or stabilize a family who is at risk of receiving child welfare services, or in cases in which a report regarding a family has been made to the county child welfare department or a tribal agency, as specified, (2) direct assistance by an interdisciplinary team for families who are at risk of child welfare services or in cases in which a report regarding a family has been made to the county child welfare department or a tribal agency and (3) legal training or technical assistance to other qualified organizations providing prevention legal services or direct assistance by an interdisciplinary team. The bill would require the department to submit a report to the Legislature evaluating the effectiveness of the program, as specified.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akilah Weber Pierson | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 39 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- July 1 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
- From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S.
- Referred to Coms. on HUM. S. and JUD.
- In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
- Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1326.) Ordered to the Assembly.
- Ordered to special consent calendar.
- Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
- From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1201.) (May 23).
- Set for hearing May 23.
- May 5 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
- Set for hearing May 5.
- From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0. Page 835.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.